Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Calculate your 2026 self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) and the deductible half.
Updated June 2026Your Self-Employment Income
Enter your annual net profit from self-employment (Schedule C line 31): gross income minus business expenses.
Your 2026 SE Tax
Breakdown
On your income tax return
Effective SE tax rate: 14.13% of net profit. Half of the SE tax ($5,651.82) is deductible from your federal income tax.
How It Works
Enter Net Profit
Input your annual self-employment profit after business expenses.
See Your SE Tax
Social Security + Medicare on 92.35% of your profit, 2026 rates.
Get the Deduction
See the deductible half that lowers your income tax.
How Self-Employment Tax Works in 2026
When you work for an employer, you pay 7.65% in FICA and your employer pays the other 7.65%. When you are self-employed, you pay both halves, which is what the self-employment (SE) tax covers: 12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare = 15.3%.
The tax is applied to 92.35% of your net profit (not the full amount), because the IRS lets you exclude the employer-equivalent share first. Social Security stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500; Medicare has no cap, and high earners pay an extra 0.9% above $200,000.
Worked example: $80,000 net profit
| Net profit | $80,000 |
| Taxable earnings (× 92.35%) | $73,880 |
| Social Security (12.4%) | $9,161 |
| Medicare (2.9%) | $2,143 |
| Total SE tax | $11,304 |
| Deductible half | $5,652 |
Don't forget quarterly estimated taxes
Self-employment tax is paid on top of federal and state income tax. If you expect to owe $1,000+, the IRS requires quarterly estimated payments (mid-April, June, September, and January). Set aside roughly 25–30% of profit to cover SE tax plus income tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. It applies to 92.35% of your net self-employment profit. The Social Security portion only applies up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500; Medicare has no cap, and an extra 0.9% applies to earnings above $200,000 (single).
How is self-employment tax calculated?
Multiply your net profit (Schedule C line 31) by 92.35% to get your taxable earnings, then apply 12.4% Social Security (up to the wage base) and 2.9% Medicare. For example, on $80,000 net profit, taxable earnings are $73,880, giving roughly $11,304 in self-employment tax.
Can I deduct part of my self-employment tax?
Yes. You can deduct one-half of your self-employment tax (the employer-equivalent portion) as an above-the-line deduction on your federal income tax return. This lowers your taxable income, not the SE tax itself.
Do I have to pay self-employment tax quarterly?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax, the IRS requires quarterly estimated payments (April, June, September, and January). Self-employment tax is included in those estimates alongside income tax.
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Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.