Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Calculate the US Self-Employment (SE) tax — the version of Social Security and Medicare that self-employed people pay. Both halves: 15.3% up to the $176,100 Social Security wage base (2025), then 2.9%.
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About Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Why 15.3%?
Self-employed people pay both halves of FICA: 6.2% × 2 = 12.4% Social Security, plus 1.45% × 2 = 2.9% Medicare = 15.3%. Employees pay only the employee half; their employer covers the rest. Self-employed get the deduction below as partial compensation.
The 92.35% adjustment
You only owe SE tax on 92.35% of net earnings — equivalent to deducting the employer half of FICA before calculating. A minor but standard adjustment.
The Social Security wage base — and what happens if you also have a W-2 job
The 12.4% Social Security part only applies up to an annual wage base ($176,100 for 2025); above that, only the 2.9% Medicare part continues, with no ceiling. W-2 wages count toward that same base first, so if a day job has already used part or all of it, the Social Security half of your SE tax shrinks or disappears. Enter those wages in the optional field above to see it. Medicare has no cap, and an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to combined earnings above $200,000 (single filers).
Quarterly estimated taxes
SE tax + income tax can be huge surprises. Pay quarterly estimated taxes (Form 1040-ES) on Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Jan 15. Underpaying triggers penalties. Many freelancers set aside 30-35% of every payment received.