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Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Calculate the Social Security and Medicare tax on your 2026 freelance profit, line by line as on Schedule SE.

Updated · Tax year 2026 · By Volkan Eren · Sources & method

Schedule C line 31: business income minus business expenses.

Social Security wages from a job you also hold, not your spouse’s.

Only affects the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax threshold.

2026 self-employment tax

$10,597

That is 14.1% of your net profit. You can deduct $5,299 (half of the Social Security and Medicare part) when figuring income tax.

Schedule SE calculation steps
Net earnings (profit × 92.35%)$69,262.50
Social Security 12.4% (on up to $184,500)$8,588.55
Medicare 2.9%$2,008.61
Self-employment tax (Schedule SE)$10,597.16
Additional Medicare 0.9% (Form 8959)$0.00
Deductible half of SE tax$5,298.58

No self-employment tax is due if net earnings are under $400. Estimate for tax year 2026. Not tax advice.

How much is self-employment tax?

For 2026, self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of your net profit: 12.4% Social Security on the first $184,500 of net earnings plus 2.9% Medicare on all of it. On $75,000 of 1099 profit that is $10,597, half of it deductible. Use this 1099 tax calculator for the payroll-tax part of your bill.

2026 self-employment tax by net profit

Self-employment tax for selected net profit amounts, tax year 2026, single filer
Net profitSE tax+0.9% MedicareDeductible half
$25,000$3,532$0$1,766
$50,000$7,065$0$3,532
$75,000$10,597$0$5,299
$100,000$14,130$0$7,065
$150,000$21,194$0$10,597
$200,000$28,234$0$14,117
$250,000$29,573$278$14,787

Single filer with no W-2 wages. The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies above $200,000 of net earnings.

Follow the step-by-step guide on how to calculate self-employment tax, then build it into your pricing with the freelance rate calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?

15.3%: 12.4% Social Security on net earnings up to $184,500 and 2.9% Medicare on all net earnings. Net earnings are 92.35% of net profit, so the effective rate on profit is about 14.13% below the cap.

What is the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax?

An extra 0.9% Medicare tax on wages and self-employment earnings above $200,000 (single or head of household) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It is not deductible and is reported on Form 8959.

Can I deduct self-employment tax?

Yes, half of it. You deduct half of your self-employment tax (the Social Security and Medicare part, not the 0.9% surtax) as an adjustment to income. The deduction lowers your income tax, not your self-employment tax.

Estimates for educational and planning purposes only. HourFloor does not provide tax, legal or financial advice. Verify your numbers with a qualified tax professional.

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