ReceiptKitFor freelancers
Freelance Tax Calculator
Clients pay freelancers the full invoice and take nothing out for tax. Enter your freelance profit to see the self-employment tax you owe and the share of each invoice to save. It runs in your browser, and nothing you type is stored or sent.
Freelance costs that lower your profit
Self-employment tax is figured on profit, so costs you can prove reduce it. Common freelance costs include:
- Software, subscriptions and tools used for client work.
- Equipment such as a computer or camera, used for the business.
- The business share of your phone and internet.
- Co-working space, or a home office that meets the IRS rules.
How it's calculated
Self-employment tax = Social Security + Medicare on 92.35% of your profit
- Net earnings = profit × 92.35%.
- Social Security = 12.4% of net earnings, up to a wage base of $184,500.00. Wages from a job use up part of that base first.
- Medicare = 2.9% of net earnings, with no limit.
- Additional Medicare tax = 0.9% on earnings above $200,000.00 (single), $250,000.00 (married filing jointly) or $200,000.00 (head of household), counting wages.
- Under $400.00 of net earnings there is no self-employment tax.
The rates and limits come from the same IRS and SSA figures as our quarterly tax calculator.
Worked example
| Net earnings | $66,492.00 |
| Social Security | $8,245.01 |
| Medicare | $1,928.27 |
| Self-employment tax | $10,173.28 |
| Share of profit | 14.1% |
| Deductible half | $5,086.64 |
Other calculators for freelancers, designers, writers, developers and consultants
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator: anyone who earns money outside a regular job
- Self-Employed Tax Calculator: people running their own business
- Independent Contractor Tax Calculator: independent contractors paid on a Form 1099-NEC
- Gig Worker Tax Calculator: gig workers and people with a side hustle
- Delivery Driver Tax Calculator: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Uber and Lyft drivers
- 1099 tax calculator: income tax and self-employment tax together
- Quarterly tax calculator: four payments and due dates
Keep the records with ReceiptKit
ReceiptKit is a receipt scanner with a business or personal switch, tax paid totals and exportable reports. Scan your business receipts as you pay, and your costs are ready when you need to lower your profit. See the tax report and export features.
FAQ
Do freelancers pay self-employment tax?
Yes, once your net freelance earnings reach $400 for the year. It covers Social Security and Medicare, and you report it on Schedule SE.
Do I pay tax on freelance income if I get no 1099?
Yes. The IRS says self-employment income is taxable even when no form is sent to you, so track every client payment yourself.
How much of each invoice should I save?
The calculator shows the self-employment tax as a share of your profit. Add your income tax on top, which the 1099 tax calculator estimates.
What if my freelance income changes month to month?
Recalculate when your profit changes. Estimated payments can be adjusted during the year, so use the quarterly tax calculator for the schedule.
Sources
- IRS Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes) (checked 2026-10-25)
- IRS Instructions for Schedule SE (2026) (checked 2026-10-25)
- IRS Publication 505 (2026): withholding and estimated tax (checked 2026-10-25)
- IRS Topic no. 560: Additional Medicare tax (checked 2026-10-25)
- SSA 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment fact sheet (checked 2026-10-25)
Rates and rules checked on official IRS and SSA pages on 2026-10-25. This calculator gives an estimate of U.S. federal self-employment tax only. It is not tax advice and does not calculate income tax, state tax, credits or special cases such as church employee income or farm income. Ask a tax professional before you file or make a payment.
Keep every receipt ready for tax time.
ReceiptKit keeps receipts, deductions and exports together with no sign-up.