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Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Calculate the SE tax — both halves of FICA — on Schedule C net income or partnership K-1 income. Includes Social Security cap, Medicare base rate, and the 0.9% additional Medicare surtax.

Net self-employment income

Schedule C net or partnership K-1

W-2 Social Security wages

Filing status

Total SE tax

$12,010

14.1% of net SE income

Social Security portion

$9,734

12.4% up to wage base

Medicare portion

$2,276

2.9% on all SE income

Half SE tax deduction

$6,005

above-the-line deduction

How SE tax works

SE tax = both halves of FICA: 12.4% Social Security up to the wage base + 2.9% Medicare on everything + 0.9% additional Medicare on income above $200k single / $250k joint. The first 92.35% of SE income is the taxable base.

You can deduct half of SE tax (Social Security + base Medicare portions only) above-the-line on Form 1040. This calculator computes that. Additional Medicare on the employee side is not part of the deductible half.

Editorial noteMaintained by EveryCalc - Reviewed June 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

Calculation notes and example

Self-employment tax formula used here

Self-employment tax estimates the Social Security and Medicare tax owed by people who work for themselves. Net self-employment income is generally multiplied by the SE tax adjustment before applying the Social Security and Medicare rates. Income tax is separate, so this page should be paired with quarterly estimates when planning actual cash set aside.

Worked example

A freelancer with $90,000 of net self-employment income may owe both employer and employee portions of payroll tax, before federal or state income tax. The exact number depends on current thresholds and deductions, but the result is a better reserve target than looking only at income tax brackets. Use quarterly estimated tax to turn the annual estimate into payment timing.

Edge cases and practical tips

This is a planning estimate, not a filed tax return.
S-corp wages, QBI, deductions, and retirement contributions can change the overall tax picture.
Quarterly payments should include income tax as well as self-employment tax.

Useful companion tools: Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator, Estimated Tax Penalty Calculator, S-Corp Tax Savings Calculator, and QBI Deduction Calculator.

How to interpret the self-employment tax result

Best use

Use the result as a planning number for comparing payments, rates, returns, tax reserves, or cash-flow choices before you request a quote or make a commitment.

Cross-check

Compare the answer with the contract, lender estimate, tax form, brokerage statement, payroll record, or invoice that will control the real-world outcome.

Watch for

Do not rely on a single optimistic rate, return, or fee assumption. Money pages work best when you run low, base, and high cases and keep professional advice separate from the estimate.

This page belongs to the Finance calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this self-employment tax estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Confirm source numbers

Match balances, rates, fees, taxes, income, and payment dates against the lender quote, payroll record, tax form, statement, invoice, or contract.

Separate cash flow from total cost

A lower monthly payment can still cost more over time if fees, interest, taxes, or a longer term are hidden in the structure.

Run conservative cases

Test at least one higher-cost or lower-return case before using the output for a purchase, refinance, investment, loan, or tax decision.

Rerun this page when the rate, price, term, fee, tax rule, income, expense, or expected holding period changes.

How to Use

Enter your net self-employment income (Schedule C net or K-1 ordinary income).
Enter any W-2 Social Security wages already paid in (so SS cap isn't double-counted).
Pick filing status — affects the additional Medicare surtax threshold.
Read total SE tax and the half deductible above-the-line on Form 1040.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is SE tax so much higher than payroll tax?

When you're self-employed you pay both the employee and employer halves of FICA. As an employee, you pay 7.65% (6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare) and your employer matches. Self-employed: you pay both = 15.3% on the relevant base.

Do I get to deduct half?

Yes — you deduct half of the Social Security and base Medicare portions above-the-line on Form 1040. This essentially mimics the employer-half deduction salaried workers get without seeing it.

What's the Social Security wage base?

$176,100 for 2026 (approximate). Above this, no Social Security tax — only Medicare continues. The wage base rises annually.

What's the additional Medicare tax?

0.9% extra Medicare on income above $200k single / $250k joint. Combined W-2 + SE income counts. No employer match on this surtax — it's purely the worker's responsibility.