Free self-employment tax calculator
Enter your net self-employment income — this self-employment tax calculator applies the 15.3% SE tax on 92.35% of your earnings and shows the deductible half, updated live, as you type.
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Estimated only. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, filing status, and local laws. Consult your payroll provider for exact figures.
Results are estimates. Consult a professional.
How the self-employment tax calculator works
Self-employed individuals — freelancers, sole proprietors, and single-member LLC owners — pay both the employee and employer halves of FICA. This combined 15.3% obligation is called the self-employment (SE) tax. Because the employer share is not included in net earnings, the IRS allows you to multiply net self-employment income by 92.35% before applying the rates, which mimics how employees only pay FICA on their wages (the employer match is excluded from the employee's taxable base).
Worked example: $85,000 net self-employment income
Carlos is a self-employed graphic designer. After subtracting all business expenses from his gross revenue, his Schedule C net profit is $85,000 for 2024. He needs to calculate his SE tax and the resulting deduction before computing income tax.
SE tax by net self-employment income (2024)
The table below shows estimated SE tax and the above-the-line deduction at common income levels. At $168,600 net SE income the Social Security base ($155,622 after the 92.35% factor) is just below the cap. Above that level, SS tax stays flat while Medicare continues to grow.
| Net SE Income | SE Base (×92.35%) | SE Tax | ½ SE Deduction | Effective SE Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $23,088 | $3,533 | $1,767 | 14.1% |
| $50,000 | $46,175 | $7,065 | $3,533 | 14.1% |
| $75,000 | $69,263 | $10,597 | $5,299 | 14.1% |
| $100,000 | $92,350 | $14,130 | $7,065 | 14.1% |
| $150,000 | $138,525 | $21,194 | $10,597 | 14.1% |
| $168,600 | $155,622 | $23,809 | $11,905 | 14.1% |
| $200,000 | $184,700 | $26,262 | $13,131 | 13.1% |
At $200k the SS component caps at $168,600 × 12.4% = $20,906; Medicare continues on full $184,700 base. Source: IRS Schedule SE; Pub 334.
Tips for managing self-employment tax
Self-employed individuals face a higher tax burden than W-2 employees because they pay both sides of FICA, but the tax code provides several tools to reduce that burden.
- Pay quarterly estimated taxes — SE tax is not withheld automatically. Pay estimated taxes each quarter (due April 15, June 17, September 16, January 15) using IRS Form 1040-ES to avoid the underpayment penalty (typically equal to the federal short-term rate + 3%).
- Maximize the half-SE-tax deduction — The above-the-line deduction for half your SE tax reduces AGI, which in turn may qualify you for additional deductions and credits (like the self-employed health insurance deduction and retirement plan contributions that are tied to net earnings).
- Open a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) — Self-employed individuals can contribute up to 25% of net SE earnings (after the half-SE deduction) to a SEP-IRA, up to $69,000 in 2024. Solo 401(k) plans can stack employee + employer contributions for even higher limits.
- Deduct legitimate business expenses before SE tax — SE tax applies to net profit, not gross revenue. Every deductible business expense (home office, equipment, software, mileage at $0.67/mile in 2024) reduces both your SE tax and your income tax.
- Consider an S-Corp election at higher income levels — Once net SE income consistently exceeds ~$50,000–$60,000, electing S-Corp status and paying yourself a reasonable salary can reduce the portion of income subject to SE tax. Get advice from a CPA before making this election.
Accuracy and limitations
This calculator uses 2024 SE tax rates and the $168,600 Social Security wage base per IRS Schedule SE and Pub 334. It assumes all income qualifies as net earnings from self-employment (Schedule C, Schedule F, or a partnership Schedule K-1 with SE income). Income from S-Corps, passive partnerships, rentals, or capital gains is generally not subject to SE tax and should be excluded from the input.
The Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) on self-employment income above $200,000/$250,000 is not included in the standard SE tax calculation — it is assessed separately on Form 8959 and added to your total tax on Form 1040. This calculator does not compute state or local taxes. Consult a tax professional for comprehensive self-employment tax planning.
Self-employment tax terms defined
About this self-employment tax calculator
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