Self-Employment Tax Calculator 2026 - US Social Security & Medicare (Schedule SE)
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
US Schedule SE estimate for 2025 and 2026
Schedule SE Logic
Uses the 92.35 % net-earnings factor, the 12.4 % and 2.9 % rates and the 400 minimum.
Works With a Day Job
W-2 wages use up the Social Security wage base first and lower the Additional Medicare threshold.
Quarterly Estimate
See the self-employment part of each estimated payment.
Private
Calculated in your browser; nothing is sent.
How Self-Employment Tax Is Calculated
Self-employed people pay both the employee and the employer share of Social Security and Medicare, 15.3% in total. It applies to 92.35% of net profit, mirroring the employer half that employees never see. Social Security (12.4%) stops at the wage base, 184,500 for 2026 (176,100 for 2025); Medicare (2.9%) has no cap. Example: a 2026 profit of 80,000 gives net earnings of 73,880 and self-employment tax of 11,303.64, of which 5,651.82 is deductible.
An extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies above 200,000 (250,000 married filing jointly, 125,000 separately), counting W-2 wages first. Half of the self-employment tax is deductible from income, but this is a separate tax from income tax, which you owe on top. This estimate covers federal self-employment tax only; it is not tax advice, so check IRS Schedule SE or a tax professional for your return.
Key Takeaways
- 15.3 % on 92.35 %: The effective rate on profit is about 14.1 % below the wage base.
- Deduct half: Half of the SE tax reduces your adjusted gross income.
- Pay quarterly: Estimated payments are due in April, June, September and January.