Freelance Tax Calculator (US)
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Estimate what you owe as a US freelancer. Enter your annual freelance income, deductible expenses, a flat state tax rate and your filing status, and the calculator estimates self-employment tax, federal income tax and the amount to set aside each quarter. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser. The result is an estimate, not tax advice.
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Estimates Social Security and Medicare tax on 92.35% of net profit, which no employer withholds for you.
Estimates federal income tax after expenses, half of self-employment tax and the standard deduction come off.
Applies your flat state percentage to net profit, so you see one combined figure to save toward.
Shows self-employment, federal and state tax on separate lines, plus the quarterly set-aside, take-home and effective tax rate (of net income).
Three steps from a blank form to a result you can use.
Type your expected annual freelance income and the business expenses you can deduct.
Enter a flat state income tax percentage and pick single or married filing jointly.
Click Calculate to see each tax, the quarterly amount to put aside, estimated take-home and effective tax rate (of net income).
US freelancers pay their own Social Security and Medicare tax and usually send the IRS estimated payments during the year. This calculator turns your yearly numbers into a planning figure you can save toward.
The calculator needs four inputs. Use your best estimate for the full tax year, not just what you have earned so far.
Your numbers stay in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server or saved.
A freelancer pays two main federal taxes on business profit: self-employment tax and income tax. Profit means income minus deductible business expenses.
The IRS sets self-employment tax at 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. It applies to 92.35% of your net earnings from self-employment, and you generally must pay it once net earnings reach $400. The IRS states that for 2026 only the first $184,500 of combined wages, tips and net earnings is subject to the 12.4% Social Security part. An Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies above $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly.
You can deduct one half of your self-employment tax when you work out adjusted gross income. This lowers income tax, not the self-employment tax itself.
Income tax applies to what is left after deductions. The IRS lists these figures for tax year 2026:
| Item | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 | $32,200 |
| 10% bracket | Up to $12,400 | Up to $24,800 |
| 12% bracket starts above | $12,400 | $24,800 |
| 22% bracket starts above | $50,400 | $100,800 |
| 24% bracket starts above | $105,700 | $211,400 |
Brackets are marginal. Each rate only applies to the slice of income inside that band, so moving into a higher bracket does not raise tax on the dollars below it.
Example: this is an illustration with rounded numbers, not a real client. A single freelancer expects $80,000 in income and $10,000 in deductible expenses, and uses a 5% flat state estimate. We use the 2026 IRS figures quoted above.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Net profit | $80,000 minus $10,000 | $70,000 |
| Earnings subject to SE tax | $70,000 x 92.35% | $64,645 |
| Social Security part | $64,645 x 12.4% | $8,016 |
| Medicare part | $64,645 x 2.9% | $1,875 |
| Self-employment tax | $8,016 + $1,875 | $9,891 |
| Income after deducting half of SE tax | $70,000 minus $4,945 | $65,055 |
| Taxable income | $65,055 minus $16,100 standard deduction | $48,955 |
| Federal income tax | 10% of $12,400 plus 12% of $36,555 | $5,627 |
| State estimate | 5% of $70,000 | $3,500 |
| Total for the year | $9,891 + $5,627 + $3,500 | $19,018 |
| Quarterly payment to set aside | $19,018 divided by 4 | about $4,755 |
The calculator shows this as an effective tax rate (of net income) of 27.2%: $19,018 divided by the $70,000 profit. We suggest setting that share of your profit aside in a separate savings account as client payments land, so the quarterly bill is already covered. The calculator follows the same order: net profit, self-employment tax on 92.35% of it, half of that tax deducted before the standard deduction, federal brackets, a flat state rate on net profit, then the total divided by 4.
Because no employer withholds tax from client payments, the IRS expects most freelancers to pay during the year. Individuals generally must pay estimated tax if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file. The year has four payment periods, each with its own due date, and you use Form 1040-ES to work out the amounts.
The quarterly figure in the calculator splits the yearly estimate into four equal parts. Check the IRS Tax Calendar or Publication 505 for the exact due dates each year.
This calculator gives an estimate, not tax advice. It is a planning tool, and your real bill can differ. Keep these limits in mind:
We suggest running the numbers again whenever your income forecast changes, and asking a CPA or enrolled agent to review your situation before you file.
Quick answers about the Freelance Tax Calculator (US).
Most US freelancers pay 15.3% self-employment tax on 92.35% of net earnings, plus federal income tax at their marginal rate and any state tax. In our worked example, a single freelancer with $70,000 in profit owes about $19,018 in total, which the calculator shows as an effective tax rate of 27.2% of net income. Your share depends on income, expenses and state.
Self-employment tax is Social Security and Medicare tax for people who work for themselves. The IRS sets it at 15.3%, made up of 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. You generally owe it when net earnings from self-employment reach $400 or more, and you calculate it on Schedule SE.
The IRS says individuals generally must pay estimated tax if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file. Most full-time freelancers cross that line. You can pay in four installments using Form 1040-ES, or more often, as long as enough is paid by the end of each quarter.
It applies one flat state percentage that you enter to your net profit. That keeps the estimate simple, but real state taxes often use brackets, credits and local add-ons. If your state uses graduated rates, enter your expected effective rate, or check your state revenue department for a more exact figure.
No. It is an estimate for planning, not tax advice and not a tax return. It leaves out other income, itemized deductions, credits and filing statuses beyond single and married filing jointly. Use it to decide how much to set aside, then file with tax software or a qualified tax professional.
No. The calculator runs in your browser, and the figures you enter are not sent to a server or stored. You do not need an account. If you want to keep a result, click Copy and paste the breakdown into your own notes or spreadsheet.
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