US Self-Employment Tax Calculator (2025)
Estimate the self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) on your net profit for 2025, plus the deductible half you can claim against income tax.
Eligibility & Estimate Tool
2025 RulesYour business income minus business expenses (Schedule C net profit).
12.4% Social Security (up to the wage base) + 2.9% Medicare on 92.35% of net profit.
checklistDocuments you may needexpand_more
- Schedule C (or your profit-and-loss summary) showing net profit
- Records of business income and deductible expenses
- Form 1040-ES if you make quarterly estimated payments
Official sources
Disclaimer: Estimate only. Excludes the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, state taxes, and income tax. Your actual liability depends on your full return. Not tax advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the self-employment tax rate?expand_more
15.3% total: 12.4% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base of 176,100 in 2025) and 2.9% for Medicare with no cap. It is charged on 92.35% of your net profit.
Do I owe self-employment tax on a small profit?expand_more
If your net earnings from self-employment are less than 400, you generally do not owe self-employment tax.
Can I deduct any of it?expand_more
Yes. You can deduct half of your self-employment tax when calculating your federal income tax. This calculator shows that deductible amount.
What this calculator does
Estimate the self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) on your net profit for 2025, plus the deductible half you can claim against income tax.
Who it is for
Freelancers, gig workers, sole proprietors, and single-member LLC owners who report business profit on Schedule C and need to estimate self-employment tax.
How it works
Net profit is multiplied by 92.35% to get net earnings from self-employment. Social Security tax is 12.4% of those earnings up to the wage base, Medicare tax is 2.9% with no cap, and the two added together are your self-employment tax. Half of it is deductible against income tax.
Example calculation
On 50,000 of net profit: net earnings are 50,000 x 0.9235 = 46,175. Social Security is 12.4% of 46,175 = 5,725.70, Medicare is 2.9% = 1,339.08, so self-employment tax is about 7,064.78. The deductible half is about 3,532.39.
Regional variations
Self-employment tax is federal and the same in every state. States may separately tax your business income, which is not included here.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting that self-employment tax is separate from and in addition to federal income tax.
- Calculating the tax on full net profit instead of 92.35% of it.
- Overlooking the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax that applies to higher earners (computed separately).
What you will need
- Schedule C (or your profit-and-loss summary) showing net profit
- Records of business income and deductible expenses
- Form 1040-ES if you make quarterly estimated payments
Deadlines
Self-employment tax is paid through quarterly estimated payments (generally April, June, September, and January) and reconciled on your annual return, typically due April 15.
Sources
- Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes) - IRS (retrieved 2026-06-09)
Last verified: June 9, 2026 · Effective year 2025 · Rules v1.0.0
Disclaimer: Estimate only. Excludes the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, state taxes, and income tax. Your actual liability depends on your full return. Not tax advice.
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