Free Calculator
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate Schedule SE tax, Social Security, Medicare, and additional Medicare, net of the half-of-SE-tax income adjustment.
Your situation
Self-employment tax (Schedule SE) on net business profit, including additional Medicare tax above the threshold.
W-2 wages already paid Social Security up to the wage base; that reduces the OASDI portion of SE tax owed.
Estimated SE tax
$14,130
owed on Schedule SE in addition to regular income tax
Read this carefully
SE tax is separate from federal income tax. Half the SE tax (OASDI + Medicare; not the additional Medicare) is deductible against AGI. State tax is not modeled. Review your SE tax plan.
Estimates for educational purposes only, not tax, legal, investment, or accounting advice. Your specific facts will change the result; confirm with a CPA before acting.When SE tax becomes a serious bill
Once net SE earnings clear $80–100K above a reasonable salary, the S-corp election starts to save real money on payroll tax, at the cost of running payroll, filing a separate return, and (in California) the 1.5% S-corp tax.
Frequently Asked
Self-employment tax questions
- Who owes self-employment tax?
- Sole proprietors, single-member LLCs (default tax treatment), and general partners on their distributive share of partnership ordinary income. S-corp shareholders do NOT owe SE tax on K-1 distributions, that's the point of the S-corp election, but they owe regular FICA on their W-2 salary.
- How is the 15.3% SE tax rate calculated?
- 12.4% Social Security (OASDI) on net SE earnings up to the wage base ($184,500 in 2026; adjusted annually) plus 2.9% Medicare on all net SE earnings. The combined 15.3% applies after a 92.35% adjustment to your net profit (you only pay SE tax on 92.35% of profit).
- What is additional Medicare tax?
- A 0.9% surtax on Medicare wages and SE earnings above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It's reported on Form 8959 and added on top of regular Medicare.
- Can I deduct half of my SE tax?
- Yes, half of the OASDI + regular Medicare portion (not the additional Medicare) is deductible as an adjustment to income on Form 1040. The calculator shows this 'half-of-SE-tax' deduction so you can model the AGI impact.
Keep reading
1099-NEC
IRS form used to report payments to non-employee contractors and freelancers.
GlossarySelf-Employment Tax
Combined Social Security + Medicare tax (15.3%) owed by self-employed individuals on net earnings.
GlossarySchedule SE (Self-Employment Tax)
The IRS form computing self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) for sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members.
GlossaryEstimated Tax Payments
Quarterly tax payments owners and corporations send in throughout the year to cover income and self-employment tax the IRS expects them to owe.
GuideQuarterly Estimated Tax for Self-Employed and Business Owners
If you're not on a W-2, the IRS expects four prepayments a year. Miss them and you owe penalties even if you pay in full at filing.
GuideCalifornia Small Business Franchise Tax Explained
The minimum $800 every California entity owes, and the layered taxes that surprise founders who form here without thinking it through.