2026 tax year

Self-employed set-aside

Estimate federal self-employment tax, income tax, and an optional state amount. Use this as a planning picture, not a prepared return.

Profit after business expenses, before income tax and the self-employment tax deduction.
W-2 wages, interest, or other income that is not this net profit.
A flat estimate. Enter 5 for 5%. Leave 0 to skip state tax.
General education, not personal tax advice. This estimate is for learning only.
Assumptions.
  • Tax year 2026. Self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings, if that amount is at least $400.
  • The 2026 Social Security wage base is $184,500, reduced by wages already subject to Social Security tax. Medicare has no wage cap. An extra 0.9% Medicare tax may apply above $200,000 ($250,000 jointly, $125,000 married filing separately).
  • Half of the 15.3% self-employment tax is deductible. The extra 0.9% Medicare tax is not treated as deductible here.
  • The 2026 standard deduction is used. The qualified business income deduction, itemized deductions, credits, and extra standard deductions for age or blindness are not applied, so the income-tax piece may be high.
  • State tax, if entered, is a flat percentage of income after the deductible half of self-employment tax.
IRS sources.

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General education, not personal tax advice