Self-Employed Tax Calculator for Freelancers & 1099 WorkersQuickly estimate your taxes, net income, and quarterly payments — all in one simple tool.

Self-employed taxes in the United States include both federal income tax and self-employment tax (SE tax).

To estimate your total tax accurately, follow these steps:

• 1. Calculate Net Profit

  Subtract your business expenses from your total income to determine your net earnings.
• 2. Calculate Self-Employment Tax

  Apply Social Security and Medicare taxes to your net income.

  • Social Security tax is capped annually
  • Medicare tax applies to all earnings
• 3. Apply Key Deductions

  Reduce your taxable income by:

  • 50% of your self-employment tax
  • Your standard deduction (based on filing status)
• 4. Calculate Federal & State Taxes

  • Apply progressive federal tax brackets
  • Add your state's estimated effective income tax rate

This calculator simplifies the process and provides a reliable estimate of your total tax and take-home income.

Self-employment tax is a combination of:

• Social Security tax (12.4%)

  Applied only up to the annual wage base limit (capped at $168,600 for 2024)
• Medicare tax (2.9%)

  Applied to all net earnings with no cap

For most freelancers, the combined rate is 15.3%.

However, once your income exceeds the Social Security cap, your overall self-employment tax rate decreases slightly.

Unlike traditional employees, freelancers and independent contractors are responsible for paying the full amount themselves.

Freelancers in the US typically pay three types of taxes:

• Self-Employment Tax: ~15.3%

  (lower effective rate above the Social Security cap)
• Federal Income Tax:

  Progressive rates from 10% to 37%, applied after deductions
• State Income Tax:

  Ranges from 0% (e.g., Texas, Florida) to approximately 6%–8% effective rates in higher-tax states

You can legally reduce your tax burden by claiming business deductions.

Common deductible expenses include:

• Home office expenses
• Software subscriptions and tools
• Marketing and advertising costs
• Equipment and supplies

Keeping accurate records of your expenses is one of the most effective ways to lower your taxable income.