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Self-Employment Tax Calculator (Schedule SE, 2026)

What does this come to under the current IRS rules?

Social Security and Medicare tax on net self-employment earnings, the 92.35 percent base, the 2026 wage base and the half-tax deduction.

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Your figures
Example figuresIllustrative only. Type over them with your own.
Self-employment tax
$12,717
Social Security plus Medicare on net earnings
Net earnings (92.35% of profit)
$83,115
Social Security tax (12.4%)
$10,306
Drawn to one scale
Net earnings (92.35% of profit)$83,115
Social Security tax (12.4%)$10,306
Medicare tax (2.9%)$2,410
Self-employment tax$12,717
Deduction for half the tax$6,358
All results
MeasureResult
Net earnings (92.35% of profit)$83,115
Social Security tax (12.4%)$10,306
Medicare tax (2.9%)$2,410
Self-employment tax$12,717
Deduction for half the tax$6,358
How this was worked out
Work shownrecomputed as you type
Net earnings = profit x 92.35%; no tax if net earnings are under $400
Social Security = 12.4% x min(net earnings, $184,500 - W-2 wages)
Medicare = 2.9% x net earnings
Deduction = tax / 2

Illustrative arithmetic on the figures you enter. Check the result against your firm's methodology before relying on it.

The formulas

  • Net earnings = profit x 92.35%; no tax if net earnings are under $400
  • Social Security = 12.4% x min(net earnings, $184,500 - W-2 wages)
  • Medicare = 2.9% x net earnings
  • Deduction = tax / 2

How it works

Tax year: 2026.

Net earnings from self-employment are net profit times 92.35 percent. Social Security tax of 12.4 percent applies to net earnings up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, reduced by any W-2 wages already taxed. Medicare tax of 2.9 percent applies to all net earnings. You owe the tax when net earnings are $400 or more, and you deduct one-half of the tax in figuring adjusted gross income.

The wage base is from IRS Topic 751 and Publication 15 (2026). The Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9 percent on high earners is in the FICA and Medicare tool, not here.

Illustrative figures only. Check the result against your firm's methodology before relying on it.

Common questions

Why is the base 92.35 percent of profit?

It removes the employer-equivalent half of the 15.3 percent rate, so self-employed people are not taxed on the half an employer would deduct.

What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?

$184,500. Earnings above it owe Medicare tax only.

How much of the tax is deductible?

One-half of the self-employment tax is an adjustment to income on Schedule 1.

Sources

Runs in your browser. The figures you type are not sent to CORAA or stored. Check the result against your firm's methodology before relying on it.

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