ReceiptKitSchedule SE estimate
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Self-employment tax is the Social Security and Medicare tax you pay yourself, because no employer pays half for you. Enter your net profit to see the exact pieces and how much to set aside. It runs in your browser, and nothing you type is stored or sent.
Who has to pay self-employment tax?
You generally pay it if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more for the year. That includes sole proprietors, independent contractors and partners in a partnership.
It is separate from income tax. You can owe it even when your income is too low to owe income tax.
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 | $55,410.00 |
| Social Security | $6,870.84 |
| Medicare | $1,606.89 |
| Self-employment tax | $8,477.73 |
| Share of profit | 14.1% |
| Deductible half | $4,238.87 |
Other calculators for 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
- 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
What is the self-employment tax rate?
The rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. It applies to 92.35% of your net profit, not the full amount.
Is there a limit on self-employment tax?
The Social Security part stops at a yearly wage base, currently $184,500.00 (wages you also earn count toward it). The Medicare part has no limit, and an extra 0.9% applies above a threshold.
Can I deduct part of self-employment tax?
Yes. You can deduct half of your self-employment tax when you figure your income tax. The calculator shows that amount.
Does this include income tax?
No. This page estimates self-employment tax only. For the full federal bill, use the 1099 tax calculator.
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.
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