How we calculate
Our calculators give an estimate of your US federal tax. They follow the IRS figures for the 2026 tax year, published in Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and by the Social Security Administration. Every number below is the one the calculators use.
Self-employment tax
| Part | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 12.4% | Net earnings up to $184,500 (2026 wage base) |
| Medicare | 2.9% | All net earnings |
| Total | 15.3% |
- Self-employment tax applies to 92.35% of your net profit (Schedule SE).
- Nothing is due if that amount is under $400.
- Your W-2 wages use up the Social Security wage base first.
- Half of your self-employment tax is deducted from your income.
Federal income tax
We start from your adjusted gross income: freelance profit + wages + other income − half of your self-employment tax − any other adjustments you enter. Then we subtract the standard deduction and the qualified business income (QBI) deduction, and apply the tax brackets.
| Filing status | 2026 standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100 |
| Head of household | $24,150 |
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household | Married filing separately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $12,400 | $0 – $24,800 | $0 – $17,700 | $0 – $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,400 – $50,400 | $24,800 – $100,800 | $17,700 – $67,450 | $12,400 – $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,400 – $105,700 | $100,800 – $211,400 | $67,450 – $105,700 | $50,400 – $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 – $201,775 | $211,400 – $403,550 | $105,700 – $201,750 | $105,700 – $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 – $256,225 | $403,550 – $512,450 | $201,750 – $256,200 | $201,775 – $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,225 – $640,600 | $512,450 – $768,700 | $256,200 – $640,600 | $256,225 – $384,350 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | over $768,700 | over $640,600 | over $384,350 |
Qualified business income (QBI) deduction
- 20% of your freelance profit (after the self-employment tax deduction), limited to 20% of your taxable income.
- Above the income threshold it shrinks to zero over the phase-in range. We assume a sole proprietor with no employees, which is how it works for most freelancers.
- From 2026 there is a minimum deduction of $400 if your qualified business income is at least $1,000.
| Filing status | Phase-out starts | Phase-out complete |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $201,750 | $276,750 |
| Married filing jointly | $403,500 | $553,500 |
| Married filing separately | $201,775 | $276,775 |
| Head of household | $201,750 | $276,750 |
Additional Medicare tax
0.9% on wages plus self-employment earnings above $200,000 (single and head of household), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately).
Quarterly payments
To avoid the underpayment penalty, your payments plus withholding should reach the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000, or $75,000 if married filing separately). No payments are required if you'll owe less than $1,000 after withholding.
What we leave out
To keep things simple, the calculators do not include: state and local tax, itemized deductions, tax credits (such as the child tax credit), capital gains and qualified dividends at their lower rates, the alternative minimum tax, or the W-2 wage and property limits of the QBI deduction. If any of these apply to you, your actual tax will be different.
This is not tax advice
These tools are for planning. For your tax return, use tax software or a qualified tax professional. Spotted a mistake? Email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it.