Self-Employment Tax Calculator (2026)
Paid on a 1099? Estimate your total federal tax for 2026 — self-employment tax plus income tax — and exactly how much to set aside each quarter. Free, no sign-up.
Florida has no state income tax, so this estimate covers federal income tax and self-employment tax only.
This is a planning estimate for the 2026 tax year, not tax advice. It assumes the standard deduction and that your 1099 income is your only income, and it leaves out the QBI deduction and tax credits, which usually lower your real tax. We're bookkeepers, not tax preparers — work with a CPA for your filing.
How the estimate works
Self-employed people owe two federal taxes on their net profit. First is self-employment tax — 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare — calculated on about 92.35% of your net earnings, with the Social Security portion applying up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Second is regular federal income tax, figured on your 2026 brackets after subtracting the standard deduction and half of your self-employment tax. This calculator runs both and adds them together, then splits the total into four equal quarterly payments.
Why a flat percentage isn't enough
A lot of 1099 workers budget only for income tax and get surprised by the extra 15.3% self-employment layer. Others over-save because they apply their top bracket to every dollar. Your real effective rate depends on your income and filing status, which is why an estimate built on the actual brackets beats a rule of thumb. If your profit climbs, electing S-Corp status can reduce the self-employment portion — our S-Corp vs. LLC calculator estimates that separately.
This calculator is a planning tool, not tax preparation or advice. Your actual liability depends on your full-year income, filing status, deductions, and credits. We keep your books clean so the net-profit number behind this estimate is accurate — for the filing itself, work with a CPA.
Frequently asked questions
Many self-employed people set aside 25% to 35% of net income for federal income tax plus self-employment tax. The exact share depends on your income, filing status, and deductions — this tool estimates it for the 2026 tax year, but treat it as a planning estimate, not tax advice.
It's the 15.3% Social Security and Medicare tax (12.4% plus 2.9%) that 1099 workers pay on net earnings, on top of federal income tax. Employees split this with an employer; the self-employed pay both halves, though one half is deductible.
No — Florida has no state personal income tax. Your set-aside is for federal income tax and self-employment tax only, which is why many Florida 1099 earners land in the 25% to 30% range, though your federal bracket still drives the final number.
No. To stay conservative, it assumes the standard deduction and treats your 1099 income as your only income, leaving out the QBI deduction and credits, which usually lower the real number. Use it to set money aside, and work with a CPA for your filing.
Tired of guessing what you'll owe?
We keep self-employed books clean — income, expenses, and deductions tracked all year — so your net profit is right and tax time holds no surprises. Spanish-friendly support available.