Self-Employment Tax Calculator (SE Tax 2024–2026)
Financial Calculators
Estimate 2024–2026 US self-employment tax, W-2 wage coordination, federal income tax, and Additional Medicare Tax.
Gross revenue minus business expenses
Reduces the remaining Social Security wage base.
Usually the W-2 Box 5 amount; used for Medicare coordination.
Exclude W-2 wages entered above.
Total SE Tax
$11,304
(SS + Medicare)
Federal Income Tax
$7,527
estimated
Total Tax Burden
$18,830
SE + income tax
Quarterly Payment
$4,708
recommended
| Net SE income | $80,000 |
| SE tax base (× 92.35%) | $73,880 |
| Social Security tax (12.4%, up to $184,500) | $9,161 |
| Medicare tax (2.9%) | $2,143 |
| Total SE tax | $11,304 |
| Deductible half of SE tax | −$5,652 |
| Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) | $74,348 |
| Est. federal income tax (2026) | $7,527 |
| Total estimated tax | $18,830 |
| Effective tax rate | 23.5% |
* 2026 estimate uses the standard deduction only. Social Security wages use the W-2 Box 3 amount and Medicare wages use Box 5. Business deductions, credits, state tax, and other adjustments can change actual tax; consult a tax professional.
Tax breakdown
| Segment | Value | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | $9,161 | 48.7% |
| Medicare | $2,143 | 11.4% |
| Federal income tax | $7,527 | 40.0% |
How to use this tool
- Enter net SE income. Enter gross receipts minus allowable business expenses.
- Coordinate wages. Enter W-2 Social Security and Medicare wages separately, then other taxable income. Do not repeat W-2 wages in other taxable income.
- Select status and year. Choose the filing status and tax year used for the estimate.
- Review the estimate. Review regular SE tax, any Additional Medicare Tax, and the year-labelled total.
How the self-employment tax estimate works
The calculator multiplies net self-employment income by 92.35% to find net earnings for Schedule SE. It applies 12.4% Social Security tax only to those earnings that fit within the remaining annual Social Security wage base, then applies the uncapped 2.9% Medicare tax. It deducts one-half of the regular SE tax before estimating ordinary federal income tax with the selected year's standard deduction and progressive brackets.
Why W-2 wages are separate inputs
W-2 Social Security wages normally come from Box 3 and are used first against the Social Security wage base. For example, if those wages already equal the selected year's wage base, additional self-employment earnings owe no more 12.4% Social Security tax. W-2 Medicare wages normally come from Box 5 and are used with Schedule SE net earnings to estimate the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax. Do not enter the same W-2 amount again as other taxable income.
Tax year and 2026 wage base
The year selector preserves 2024, 2025, and 2026 statutory tables and labels the result with the selected year. For 2026, the Social Security wage base is $184,500. Medicare has no wage cap. Additional Medicare Tax generally begins when combined Medicare wages and Schedule SE net earnings exceed $200,000 for single or head-of-household filers, $250,000 for joint filers, or $125,000 for married people filing separately.
What this total does and does not include
The total combines regular SE tax, estimated ordinary federal income tax, and any Additional Medicare Tax. It is not a safe-harbor payment calculation and does not include credits, QBI, retirement or health-insurance deductions, capital gains, itemized deductions, state taxes, or prior payments. The quarterly figure is simply one quarter of this annual planning estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What is self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax combines Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%) on 92.35% of net self-employment income. Half of the regular SE tax is deductible when estimating adjusted gross income.
How do W-2 wages affect this estimate?
Social Security wages, normally W-2 Box 3, use up the annual Social Security wage base before self-employment earnings are taxed at 12.4%. Medicare wages, normally Box 5, coordinate the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax with Schedule SE net earnings.
What does the selected tax year change?
The selected year controls the ordinary-income brackets, standard deduction, Social Security wage base, and statutory HSA-related data where relevant. The calculator retains 2024 through 2026 tables rather than silently substituting a current year.
Is this calculator a substitute for professional tax advice?
No. The result is a planning estimate and excludes many deductions, credits, state taxes, withholding, QBI, and other Form 1040 adjustments. Consult a CPA or enrolled agent before filing.
Related tools
- Tax Bracket EstimatorSE tax sits on top of federal income tax; this is the income-tax half.
- Paycheck CalculatorW-2 withholding equivalent if you are comparing a job to 1099 work.
- HSA / FSASelf-employed people can still use an HSA to cut taxable income.
- Gross-Up CalculatorQuote a client a net number, then gross it up for SE tax and income tax.