Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Calculate your self-employment (SE) tax for freelancers, contractors, and business owners. Includes Social Security, Medicare, deductible SE tax, and estimated quarterly payments.

TRY EXAMPLE SCENARIO:

Self-Employment Income

Gross Business Income ($)

Total revenue from self-employment (1099, business)

Business Expenses ($)

Deductible business expenses (Schedule C)

Tax Information

Filing Status

Other Income ($)

W-2 wages, spouse income, etc. (optional)

Retirement Contributions (Optional)

SEP IRA Contribution ($)

Up to 25% of net SE income (2025 limit: $69,000)

Solo 401(k) Contribution ($)

2025 limit: $23,500 employee + 25% employer

Self-Employment Tax Results

                                    Total SE Tax:
                                    $0
                                

Deductible SE Tax: $0

Net SE Income: $0

Estimated Quarterly Payment: $0

SE Tax Breakdown

SE Tax Components

2025 Quarterly Payment Schedule

Income & Tax Distribution

Tax Optimization Tips

Understanding SE Tax

Self-employment tax covers your Social Security and Medicare contributions. Unlike W-2 employees, you pay both the employee and employer portions.

2025 SE Tax Rates:

Social Security: 12.4% on income up to $168,600
Medicare: 2.9% on all income
Additional Medicare: 0.9% over $200K (single)
Total Base Rate: 15.3%

How SE Tax is Calculated:

Net SE Income = Gross Income - Business Expenses
SE Tax Base = Net SE Income × 92.35%
SE Tax = Base × 15.3%
Deductible = SE Tax × 50%

Key Deductions:

½ SE Tax: Reduces AGI automatically
QBI Deduction: Up to 20% of qualified business income
Health Insurance: 100% deductible for self-employed
Retirement: SEP IRA, Solo 401(k) contributions

2025 Quarterly Deadlines:

Q1 (Jan-Mar): April 15, 2025
Q2 (Apr-May): June 16, 2025
Q3 (Jun-Aug): September 15, 2025
Q4 (Sep-Dec): January 15, 2026

💡 SE Tax Tips:

Track all business expenses meticulously
Make quarterly payments to avoid penalties
Max out SEP IRA or Solo 401(k) to reduce tax
Claim QBI deduction if eligible
Consider S-Corp election at $60K+ profit
Keep personal and business finances separate

Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates only. Self-employment tax rules are complex. Consult a tax professional or CPA for personalized advice, especially for S-Corp considerations.