Know exactly what you owe on your 1099
Enter your 1099 income and we'll calculate your income tax and self-employment tax, in plain English, in under 2 minutes.
By the Easy Guides Editorial Team
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Self-employment tax is the part 1099 workers always owe on top of income tax: 15.3% of 92.35% of your net profit (12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare). Enter your net profit, which is your 1099 income minus your business expenses, to see it.
Your total 1099 and self-employment income minus your deductible business expenses for the year.
Full calculator pageHow self-employment tax worksPaying it quarterly
Educational federal estimate, not tax advice. Shows self-employment tax only, which is separate from federal and state income tax. The Social Security portion applies up to the annual wage base (2026: $184,500). An extra 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages and self-employment income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).
Where this comes from: SSA, 2026 COLA fact sheet (wage base set under 42 U.S.C. §430), checked 2026-08-01 · Social Security Act §230 (42 U.S.C. §430); incorporated by IRC §3121(a)(1) for wages and IRC §1402(b) for self-employment income; set by statute, not adjusted annually · IRC §3101(b)(2) (wages); IRC §1401(b)(2) (self-employment income).
Need the full picture? Try the 1099 Tax Calculator
The estimator above shows your self-employment tax. For your complete 2026 federal estimate, self-employment tax, federal income tax, the QBI deduction, and four ready-to-use quarterly payment vouchers with IRS due dates, use our full 1099 Tax Calculator.
Open the full 1099 Tax Calculator →What a 1099 actually means for your taxes
When a client, platform, or payer sends you a 1099, it means they paid you money and reported it to the IRS, but withheld nothing. No income tax, no Social Security, no Medicare. That responsibility falls entirely on you.
Most first-time 1099 recipients are surprised by how much they owe. The reason: you're not just paying income tax like a W-2 employee, you're also paying self-employment tax (15.3% on net earnings), which covers Social Security and Medicare for both you and your "employer" (also you). Combined, most freelancers owe 25, 35% of net income in federal taxes.
The good news: you can legally reduce that number significantly through business deductions, and our estimator accounts for them automatically.
Quick answers to common 1099 questions
Try the 1099 Deductions Checklist
Before you calculate your tax bill, make sure you're claiming every deduction you're entitled to. Our interactive deductions checklist walks you through every common 1099 write-off, check the ones that apply, and get a running total of how much you can deduct.
Open the Deductions Checklist →1099 guides for every situation
Common questions
What is a 1099 form?
A 1099 is an IRS information return that reports income you received from someone other than an employer. Common versions include the 1099-NEC (freelance and contractor income), 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income), and 1099-K (payment platform income). Unlike a W-2, a 1099 means no taxes were withheld, you're responsible for paying them yourself.
How much tax do I owe on a 1099?
Two types of tax apply to 1099 income: income tax (based on your tax bracket) and self-employment tax (15.3% on net earnings). Our estimator calculates both automatically. A rough rule of thumb: set aside 25, 30% of every 1099 payment for taxes.
Do I have to pay self-employment tax?
Yes, if your net self-employment income is $400 or more. Self-employment tax covers Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%), the same taxes that employees split with their employer. As a self-employed person, you pay both halves.
When do I have to pay taxes on 1099 income?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes, you're required to make quarterly estimated payments: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Failing to pay quarterly can result in an IRS underpayment penalty.