How much self-employment tax will you owe?
Self-employment tax is the 15.3% federal tax that LLC owners, sole proprietors, and partners pay on net business profit. This calculator gives you the SE tax amount plus a rough federal income tax estimate for 2026.
Three things that make Self-employment tax calculator useful in the real world.
Not a calculator that ships you to a paywall after the result.
Your number, not a generic estimate
Enter net income; we use the actual 2025 thresholds, not a rounded figure.
Quarterly schedule
See the four estimated-payment dates the IRS expects from a self-employed filer.
S-Corp comparison
See the savings if you elect S-Corp status against staying default sole prop / LLC.
Your business numbers
The 15.3% tax explained.
When you work for an employer, your paycheck has FICA tax withheld: 7.65% for you, plus 7.65% matched by your employer (so 15.3% combined). You only see the employee half on your paystub.
When you are self-employed (sole proprietor, LLC owner, partner in a partnership), you ARE the employer. You pay both halves: the full 15.3%. This is "self-employment tax," reported on Schedule SE of Form 1040.
SE tax has two parts: 12.4% Social Security (up to the wage base, $168,600 for 2026) plus 2.9% Medicare (no cap). High earners pay an additional 0.9% Medicare on income above $200k single / $250k joint.
The S-Corp election can dramatically reduce SE tax above ~$60k profit. The owner takes a reasonable salary (subject to payroll tax) and the rest as distributions (no SE tax). Run our S-Corp savings calculator to see your specific savings.
Common questions.
Who pays self-employment tax?
Is SE tax in addition to income tax?
Can I deduct anything?
When do I pay SE tax?
What if I have a W-2 job AND self-employment income?
How can I reduce SE tax?
Is this calculator accurate?
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