Self Employment Tax Calculator

Net earnings from self-employment are computed as 92.35% of net profit (gross receipts minus allowable business expenses) to reflect the IRS calculation for self-employment tax.

Self-employment tax is split into Social Security (12.4% on the applicable wage base) and Medicare (2.9% on net earnings). Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) is applied on earnings above filing-status thresholds. The calculator optionally applies a Social Security wage base if provided.

Income tax is estimated by applying a user-provided effective federal tax rate to a simplified taxable income estimate (other taxable income plus net profit minus the deductible half of SE tax). This is a simplified approach for planning and is not a substitute for a full tax return calculation.

Use the detailed mode for closer alignment with IRS calculations. Use the quick mode for a fast planning estimate.

Enter a Social Security wage base to cap the Social Security portion when you know the current year wage base. Leave it zero to ignore the cap (useful for partial-year planning or when other wages are not known).

Example (detailed): Gross income $80,000; expenses $15,000; net earnings = ($80,000 − $15,000) × 0.9235 = $60,372. Self-employment tax splits into Social Security, Medicare, and any Additional Medicare as applicable. The employer-equivalent deduction reduces estimated taxable income.

Example (quick): Same profit with 15.3% applied to net earnings gives a fast SE tax estimate without wage-base capping or Additional Medicare splitting.