Self-Employment Tax Calculator (2026)
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3% for 2026 — 12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare — charged on 92.35% of your net profit. On $100,000 of profit that is about $14,129.55, and you can deduct half ($7,064.78) above the line. Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base. Enter your profit below.
What is the self-employment tax rate in 2026?
It is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security plus 2.9% for Medicare, applied to 92.35% of net profit.
How much SE tax on $100,000?
About $14,129.55. Social Security is capped at the $184,500 wage base; Medicare has no cap.
Is half of it deductible?
Yes. You deduct half of the SE tax above the line — $7,064.78 on a $100,000 profit.
Does the Social Security part cap out?
Yes, at the $184,500 wage base for 2026. Above that, only the 2.9% Medicare portion continues.
How is self-employment tax calculated?
Self-employment tax funds Social Security and Medicare for people who work for themselves. Employees split these with an employer; the self-employed pay both halves. The rate is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit.
The 92.35% factor removes the employer-equivalent portion before the tax applies. So you never pay the full 15.3% on 100% of profit. Half of the resulting tax is then deductible.
What does self-employment tax cost at different incomes?
| Net profit | SE base (92.35%) | SE tax (15.3%) | Deductible half |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,175.00 | $7,064.78 | $3,532.39 |
| $80,000 | $73,880.00 | $11,303.64 | $5,651.82 |
| $100,000 | $92,350.00 | $14,129.55 | $7,064.78 |
How do you calculate SE tax step by step?
- Take your net profit (business income minus expenses).
- Multiply by 0.9235 to get the SE tax base.
- Apply 12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base.
- Apply 2.9% Medicare on the whole base, then deduct half the total above the line.
Does self-employment tax include income tax?
No. SE tax only covers Social Security and Medicare. You still owe federal and possibly state income tax on your profit. To see the full bill and what to set aside, use our 1099 tax calculator.