Freelancer Tax Estimator
US federal tax estimate for freelancers and self-employed — self-employment tax, income tax, set-aside %, and per-quarter payment, using IRS-verified 2026 figures.
Free · No signup · Runs entirely in your browser · Last verified 2026-05-31
US Federal Tax Estimator — 2026
Figures verified against IRS.gov on 2026-05-31.
Estimates only — informational, not tax advice. See the full disclaimer and consult a qualified tax professional before filing or making payments.
Why this calculator is different
Built from the IRS publications, not from a guess at a flat rate
Most freelancer tax tools you'll find online apply a single flat percentage (typically 25% or 30%) to your gross income, divide by four, and call the result your "quarterly payment." That's fine for an envelope on the fridge. It is not how your actual 2026 federal return is computed, and the gap between the guess and the truth is what produces five-figure April surprises.
This calculator walks the same seven steps the IRS does: net profit, the 92.35% net-earnings rule, the 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security capped at the 2026 wage base; Medicare uncapped), the half-SE-tax above-the-line deduction, the standard deduction for your filing status, federal income tax across the seven 2026 marginal brackets from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (post-OBBBA), and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax if your earned income crosses your filing-status threshold. Every number it shows you traces back to a primary IRS source — the publications and the Revenue Procedure are linked at the bottom of every guide on this site.
The site has one editor — Jason Mercer — and one source-of-truth file for every dollar amount and rate it publishes. When the IRS releases the next Revenue Procedure in late autumn, those constants get re-verified and every page on the site updates on the next rebuild. The current values were verified on 2026-05-31. The editorial process is documented on the About page.
What this is: a planning tool for set-aside %, quarterly payment amount, and "how much will I owe" sanity checks. What this isn't: a return filer, a substitute for a CPA or Enrolled Agent, or a complete model (it skips QBI, itemized deductions, credits, and most state-specific rules — see the full disclaimer).
How the math works
The full federal calculation, the way the IRS does it:
- Net profit = gross self-employment income − business expenses (use the mileage helper for vehicle use).
- SE tax = 15.3% × 92.35% of net profit (Social Security capped at the 2026 wage base; Medicare uncapped).
- AGI = net profit + W-2 wages − ½ of SE tax (the above-the-line deduction).
- Taxable income = AGI − standard deduction for your filing status.
- Federal income tax = applied across the 2026 brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (post-OBBBA).
- Additional Medicare (0.9%) if earned income exceeds the filing-status threshold.
- Set-aside % = (total tax − W-2 withholding) ÷ net profit. Per quarter = ÷ 4.
What it doesn't include: QBI deduction (§199A), itemized deductions, credits, and most state-specific rules. Use the state field for a rough add-on and consult a tax professional before filing.
Guides
Plain-English explainers, written and verified by Jason Mercer — editorial review 2026-06-07.
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1099 vs W-2 Taxes: Why Contractors Take Home Less (2026)
A side-by-side look at 1099 vs W-2 taxes in 2026: why the same pay nets a contractor less, where self-employment tax comes from, and how to close the gap.
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First-Year Freelancer Tax Guide (2026): Start Here
Just went freelance? This 2026 walkthrough covers the taxes you now owe, what to track, how much to set aside, when to pay, and how to file — in plain order.
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Estimated Tax Penalty & Safe Harbor (2026) Explained
How the IRS underpayment penalty works in 2026, the 90/100/110% safe harbor rules that prevent it, the withholding trick, and how to handle uneven income.
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Freelancer Tax Deductions: The 2026 Write-Off List
Every major tax deduction self-employed people can claim in 2026 — what qualifies, how write-offs cut both income and SE tax, and the ones that draw audit scrutiny.
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7 Freelancer Tax Mistakes (and How to Fix Each) — 2026
The most common self-employed tax mistakes in 2026 — skipping quarterly payments, under-saving, missed deductions, ignoring state tax — and the fix for each one.
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How to Pay Estimated Taxes Online (2026): Step by Step
Exactly how to pay quarterly estimated taxes to the IRS in 2026 — IRS Direct Pay step by step, EFTPS, debit/credit card, and mail, plus how to avoid common errors.
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Self-Employed Mileage Deduction (2026): Rate & Rules
The 2026 self-employed mileage deduction: the 72.5¢ standard rate, standard vs actual method, what miles count, and the log the IRS requires to back it up.
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Home Office Deduction for Freelancers (2026 Guide)
How the home office deduction works for the self-employed in 2026: the regular-and-exclusive test, simplified vs actual method, a worked example, and audit tips.
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Quarterly Estimated Taxes — A 2026 Guide for the Self-Employed
What quarterly estimated taxes are, who must pay them, the 2026 IRS due dates, how to calculate and pay each one, and the safe-harbor rule that stops penalties.
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How Much to Set Aside for Taxes as a Freelancer (2026)
A clear answer to how much self-employed people should save for taxes in 2026, with the math, a worked example, and the exact percentage to set aside.
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Self-Employment Tax Explained (2026): What It Is, Who Owes It
What the 15.3% self-employment tax is, how the 92.35% rule works, the 2026 Social Security wage base, the half-SE-tax deduction, and a worked example.
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Side Hustle Taxes (2026): Do You Owe on Side Income?
When a side hustle triggers taxes in 2026: the $400 self-employment rule, the $600 1099 myth, why a day job under-withholds, and how to cover the gap.
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2026 Quarterly Estimated Tax Due Dates (+ Calendar)
The four 2026 quarterly estimated tax deadlines at a glance, what each payment covers, the weekend rule, and a downloadable calendar reminder for every date.