Freelancer Tax Estimator
Estimate US freelancer taxes: self-employment tax, 2026 federal income tax and a flat state rate, per quarter or year. No QBI deduction. How it works
Use the Freelancer Tax Estimator
About the Freelancer Tax Estimator
A single freelancer with $60,000 of net self-employment income and a 5% state rate owes an estimated $15,989.07 a year, or $3,997.27 a quarter, using the 2026 federal brackets: $8,477.73 of self-employment tax, $4,511.34 of federal income tax and $3,000.00 of state tax. This tool uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 (IRS Publication 15) and splits the yearly total into four equal quarterly payments.
2026 federal brackets the tool uses
| Rate | Single, taxable income over | Married filing jointly, over |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 | $0 |
| 12% | $12,400 | $24,800 |
| 22% | $50,400 | $100,800 |
| 24% | $105,700 | $211,400 |
| 32% | $201,775 | $403,550 |
| 35% | $256,225 | $512,450 |
| 37% | $640,600 | $768,700 |
From IRS release IR-2025-103. The standard deduction is $16,100 for single and $32,200 for married filing jointly.
Estimated tax, single, 5% state rate
| Net income | Self-employment tax | Federal income tax | State tax | Per year | Per quarter | Share of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $4,238.87 | $1,178.06 | $1,500.00 | $6,916.92 | $1,729.23 | 23.1% |
| $60,000 | $8,477.73 | $4,511.34 | $3,000.00 | $15,989.07 | $3,997.27 | 26.6% |
| $100,000 | $14,129.55 | $11,615.75 | $5,000.00 | $30,745.30 | $7,686.32 | 30.7% |
| $150,000 | $21,194.32 | $22,190.68 | $7,500.00 | $50,885.01 | $12,721.25 | 33.9% |
No QBI deduction, no credits. The 2026 wage base is $184,500, which does not limit the tax below about $199,783 of net income.
Estimated tax, married filing jointly, 5% state rate
| Net income | Self-employment tax | Federal income tax | Per year | Per quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $8,477.73 | $2,356.11 | $13,833.84 | $3,458.46 |
| $100,000 | $14,129.55 | $6,792.23 | $25,921.78 | $6,480.44 |
| $150,000 | $21,194.32 | $13,008.62 | $41,702.95 | $10,425.74 |
The state tax is 5% of net income, as in the single table, and is included in the yearly and quarterly figures.
How to use this tool
- Enter your annual net self-employment income and pick single or married filing jointly.
- Enter your state income tax rate as a percentage (0 for none).
- Switch between Quarterly and Annual. Read the self-employment tax, the deduction, the federal and the state lines.
Frequently asked questions
- How much should a freelancer set aside for taxes?
- At 5% state tax the tool gives 23.1% of net income at $30,000, 26.6% at $60,000, 30.7% at $100,000 and 33.9% at $150,000 for a single filer. Because deductions beyond the standard deduction and credits are left out, the federal part may be higher than what you owe. Treat it as a figure to set aside, not a bill.
- How is self-employment tax calculated?
- On 92.35% of net earnings: 12.4% Social Security up to a wage base plus 2.9% Medicare, with an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on the base above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Half of the Social Security and regular Medicare parts is deducted before federal income tax; the 0.9% extra Medicare tax is not part of that deduction. At $60,000 the base is $55,410.00, the tax is $8,477.73 and the deduction is $4,238.87.
- Which Social Security wage base does it use?
- The 2026 figure, $184,500, as printed in IRS Publication 15 (2026). The cap only affects net income above about $199,783, so below that the estimate does not depend on it. A different tax year has a different base.
- Does it include the QBI deduction?
- No. Section 199A allows many self-employed people to deduct up to 20% of qualified business income, which can lower federal income tax. Whether you qualify depends on your income and type of business, so the page says federal tax may be overstated and does not guess.
- When are quarterly estimated taxes due?
- The tool lists Q1 April 15, Q2 June 15, Q3 September 15 and Q4 January 15 and says they are estimated dates. Use Form 1040-ES for the official dates, which move when one falls on a weekend or holiday. The tool splits the yearly total into four equal parts; your own pattern of income may suit uneven payments.
- Does paying this amount avoid an underpayment penalty?
- Not necessarily. The IRS says you generally avoid the penalty if you owe less than $1,000 after withholding and credits, or if you pay at least 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s, whichever is smaller, with special rules for higher incomes. The tool does not model these rules, and its total includes state tax.
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