Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate the 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) on your 1099 / freelance net earnings, plus the half you can deduct.
How it works
Self-employment tax covers the Social Security and Medicare contributions that an employer would normally split with you. You pay both halves, so the rate is 15.3% — 12.4% Social Security (up to the annual wage base, $176,100 for 2025) plus 2.9% Medicare (no cap). It is calculated on 92.35% of your net business profit. Half of the SE tax is deductible against your income tax. High earners may owe an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200k/$250k — not included here.
Frequently asked questions
Is self-employment tax the same as income tax?
No. SE tax is the Social Security + Medicare portion (15.3%). You also owe federal (and possibly state) income tax on top — use the quarterly estimated tax calculator for the full picture.
Why is it multiplied by 0.9235?
You only pay SE tax on 92.35% of net profit, which approximates the employer-half deduction a W-2 worker effectively gets.