How self-employment tax works
When you're self-employed, you pay both the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes — that's the self-employment tax. Here's the step-by-step process this freelance tax calculator follows:
- Calculate net SE income: Gross 1099/business income minus business expenses.
- Apply the 92.35% factor: Multiply net income by 0.9235 to get the SE tax base.
- Calculate Social Security: 12.4% on the SE base, up to the $184,500 wage base (minus any W-2 wages).
- Calculate Medicare: 2.9% on the entire SE base, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200K.
- Deduct half: Subtract 50% of the SE tax from your AGI before computing income tax.
Tip: Self-employment tax is in addition to federal income tax. A $100K freelancer pays ~$14,130 in SE tax plus income tax on top — use this independent contractor tax calculator to see the full picture.
The 15.3% SE tax rate breakdown
The self-employment tax rate of 15.3% consists of:
Social Security
12.4%
On SE base up to $184,500
Medicare
2.9%
On all SE base (no cap)
Additional Medicare
+0.9%
On income above $200K (single)
| Component | Rate | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 12.4% | SE base up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 2.9% | All SE base (no cap) |
| Additional Medicare | +0.9% | Combined income above $200K/$250K |
For W-2 employees, the employer pays half (7.65%) and the employee pays half. When you're self-employed, you pay the full 15.3% — but get to deduct half when calculating income tax.
The 92.35% rule
Before applying the 15.3% rate, the IRS multiplies your net SE income by 92.35% (1 − 7.65%). This simulates the fact that W-2 employers deduct their share of FICA before calculating the employee's tax. On $100,000 net SE income, you'd pay tax on $92,350 — not the full $100,000.
SE Tax Base = Net SE Income × 92.35%
2026 thresholds
| Threshold | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 |
| Additional Medicare threshold (single) | $200,000 |
| Additional Medicare threshold (married) | $250,000 |
| Minimum SE income for SE tax | $400 |
Example: $100K net self-employment income
A single freelancer earns $100,000 net (after expenses), no other W-2 income:
- SE tax base: $100,000 × 92.35% = $92,350
- Social Security: $92,350 × 12.4% = $11,451
- Medicare: $92,350 × 2.9% = $2,678
- Total SE tax: $11,451 + $2,678 = $14,130
- Half-SE deduction: $14,130 ÷ 2 = $7,065 (reduces income tax)
- Federal income tax: ≈ $11,616
Result: SE tax $14,130 + income tax $11,616 = $25,745 total tax (25.7% effective rate). Quarterly payment: $6,436
Quarterly estimated payments
Unlike W-2 employees who have taxes withheld each paycheck, self-employed individuals must send quarterly estimated payments. This also works as a quarterly tax calculator to the IRS using Form 1040-ES:
| Period | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan–Mar) | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 (Apr–May) | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 (Jun–Aug) | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 (Sep–Dec) | January 15, 2027 |
Deducting half of SE tax
The IRS lets you deduct 50% of your self-employment tax as an above-the-line deduction (Form 1040, Schedule 1, Line 15). This mirrors the fact that employers deduct their FICA share as a business expense. In our $100K example, that's a $7,065 deduction — saving roughly $1,554 in income tax at the 22% bracket.
SE tax vs. employment tax
How does self-employment tax compare to what W-2 employees pay?
W-2 Employee
- Pays 7.65% FICA (6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare)
- Employer pays the other 7.65%
- Taxes withheld each paycheck
- No quarterly payments needed
Self-Employed
- Pays full 15.3% (both halves)
- Applied to 92.35% of net income
- Must make quarterly estimated payments
- Can deduct half of SE tax from AGI
FAQs
What is self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax is the Social Security and Medicare tax that self-employed individuals pay on their net business income. It's the equivalent of the FICA taxes that employers and employees split — but since you're both, you pay both halves. The total self-employment tax rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare), applied to 92.35% of your net SE income.
What is the self-employment tax rate?
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, which breaks down as 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. This is applied to 92.35% of your net self-employment income (the 92.35% factor adjusts for the fact that employers deduct their share before calculating tax). If you earn above $200,000 (single), an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies.
Who pays self-employment tax?
Anyone who earns $400 or more in net self-employment income must pay SE tax. This includes freelancers, independent contractors (1099 workers), sole proprietors, partners in a partnership, and gig economy workers (Uber, DoorDash, Etsy, etc.). If you receive a 1099-NEC or 1099-K, you likely owe self-employment tax.
How is self-employment tax different from income tax?
Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare only — it's separate from federal income tax. You pay both on your SE income. SE tax is a flat 15.3% (on 92.35% of net income), while income tax uses progressive brackets (10%–37%). The good news: you can deduct half of your SE tax when calculating income tax, which reduces your overall tax burden.
Can I deduct half of self-employment tax?
Yes. You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion (50%) of your self-employment tax as an above-the-line deduction on your income tax return (Form 1040, Schedule 1). This reduces your adjusted gross income, which in turn reduces your federal income tax. Note: this only reduces income tax — it does not reduce the SE tax itself.
When are quarterly estimated tax payments due?
Quarterly estimated payments (Form 1040-ES) are due: Q1 — April 15, Q2 — June 16, Q3 — September 15, Q4 — January 15 of the following year. You generally must make estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax after withholding and credits. Missing payments triggers an underpayment penalty.
What happens if I don't pay quarterly estimated taxes?
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty (currently ~8% annual interest rate) on each missed or late quarterly payment. The penalty is calculated on a per-quarter basis. To avoid it, pay at least 90% of your current year's tax or 100% of your prior year's tax (110% if your AGI was over $150,000) through estimated payments or withholding.
Do I pay self-employment tax on all my income?
No — only on net self-employment income (gross revenue minus business expenses). Wages from a W-2 employer are subject to regular FICA withholding, not SE tax. Rental income, investment income (dividends, capital gains), and S-corp distributions are generally not subject to SE tax. Only Schedule C (or Schedule K-1 partnership) income triggers SE tax.
What is the $400 self-employment income threshold?
If your net self-employment income is less than $400 for the year, you do not owe self-employment tax. However, you may still need to file a tax return and report the income for income tax purposes. The $400 threshold applies to net income (after business expenses), not gross revenue.
How can I reduce my self-employment tax?
Common strategies include: 1) Maximize business deductions (home office, equipment, vehicle, health insurance). 2) Contribute to a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) — reduces income tax (not SE tax, but lowers total burden). 3) Consider electing S-corp status — pay yourself a "reasonable salary" and take remaining profit as distributions not subject to SE tax. 4) Hire your children under 18 (their wages are deductible and not subject to FICA if you're a sole proprietor).