Calculate your self-employment tax and quarterly estimated payments for 2026
Total revenue from your business
Deductible business expenses
Self-employment tax covers Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%) taxes. As a self-employed individual, you pay both the employer and employee portions, totaling 15.3% on 92.35% of your net earnings.
Enter your business income to calculate self-employment tax
You can deduct 50% of your self-employment tax as an adjustment to income, reducing your taxable income.
Make estimated tax payments quarterly to avoid penalties. Payments are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
Report self-employment tax on Schedule SE (Form 1040) when filing your annual tax return.
For 2026, Social Security tax applies only to the first $168,600 of net earnings. Medicare tax has no cap.