ReceiptKitFor gig workers
Gig Worker Tax Calculator
Gig apps pay you the full amount and leave the tax to you. Enter what you kept after costs to see the self-employment tax on your gig income and how much to hold back. It runs in your browser, and nothing you type is stored or sent.
A side gig on top of a job
If you have a W-2 job and a side gig, the job already uses part of the Social Security wage base. Enter your W-2 wages in the box so the estimate is closer.
Gig income counts even when it is small. Net earnings of $400 or more for the year are subject to self-employment tax.
- Track every payment: apps may report them on a 1099-K or 1099-NEC, or not at all.
- Keep receipts for supplies, fees and the business share of your phone.
- Keep a mileage log if you drive for your gig.
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 | $16,623.00 |
| Social Security | $2,061.25 |
| Medicare | $482.07 |
| Self-employment tax | $2,543.32 |
| Share of profit | 14.1% |
| Deductible half | $1,271.66 |
Other calculators for gig workers and people with a side hustle
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator: anyone who earns money outside a regular job
- Self-Employed Tax Calculator: people running their own business
- Freelance Tax Calculator: freelancers, designers, writers, developers and consultants
- Independent Contractor Tax Calculator: independent contractors paid on a Form 1099-NEC
- 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 I pay tax on side gig income?
Yes. Side-gig income is self-employment income, and you owe self-employment tax on net earnings of $400 or more for the year.
What if the app sends me no tax form?
You still owe the tax. The IRS says self-employment income is taxable whether or not you get a form, so keep your own records.
Does my day job change the calculation?
It can. Wages from the job count toward the Social Security wage base, and they can change when the Additional Medicare tax starts.
Can gig expenses lower this tax?
Yes. Subtract the business costs you can prove from your gig income and enter the profit. Lower profit means lower self-employment tax.
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.