1099 tax calculator (2026)
Estimate your self-employment tax, federal income tax and quarterly estimated payments from what you expect to earn and spend this year.
- Self-employment tax
- $7,347
- Federal income tax
- $2,846
| Q1 Jan–Mar | Apr 15, 2026 | $2,548 |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 Apr–May | Jun 15, 2026 | $2,548 |
| Q3 Jun–Aug | Sep 15, 2026 | $2,548 |
| Q4 Sep–Dec | Jan 15, 2027 | $2,548 |
Planning estimate, not tax advice. Check IRS.gov or a qualified tax professional before you pay.
How this number is built
| Net profit (income − expenses) | $52,000 |
|---|---|
| Self-employment earnings (92.35% of net profit) | $48,022 |
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | $7,347 |
| − Half of SE tax (deductible) | $3,674 |
| − Standard deduction (single) | $16,100 |
| − Qualified business income deduction (20%) | $6,445 |
| Taxable income | $25,781 |
| Federal income tax (2026 brackets) | $2,846 |
| Total to set aside | $10,193 |
- 2026 figures: brackets and standard deductions from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly); Social Security wage base $184,500.
- Assumes this business is your only earned income: no W-2 wages, no employees, and the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
- Federal only — no state or local tax, no credits, no other income such as interest or capital gains.
- The QBI deduction is figured for a business with no payroll; if you pay W-2 wages it can be larger at high incomes.
Your $8,000 of expenses needs receipts behind it
Deductions only hold up if you can show them. For each business expense, keep a record of who you paid, the date, the amount and what it was for.
That’s the job the Proofly receipt scanner does: snap a receipt and its AI reads the merchant, date, line items and tax, shows a confidence meter so you can fix anything before saving, keeps personal and business spend apart, and maps each expense to its Schedule C line. At tax time you export the totals as CSV for QuickBooks or Xero, plus a PDF pack with every receipt image. It doesn’t file your taxes — it gives you, or your preparer, organized records to file from.
1099 and self-employment tax questions
How is self-employment tax calculated?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% — 12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare — on 92.35% of your net profit. For 2026, the Social Security part stops at $184,500 of self-employment earnings, and an extra 0.9% Medicare tax applies above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Half of the regular SE tax is deductible when figuring income tax.
Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Generally yes, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file and nothing is withheld for you. Paying too little during the year can mean an underpayment penalty. Form 1040-ES on IRS.gov explains the rules, including the safe harbors below.
When are the 2026 quarterly payments due?
April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. A deadline that falls on a weekend moves to the next business day.
Do I have to pay the same amount every quarter?
No. Dividing by four is the simplest plan when income is steady. The safe harbors generally protect you from the penalty if you pay at least 90% of this year’s tax, or 100% of last year’s (110% if last year’s AGI was over $150,000). If your income is lumpy, the annualized-income method on Form 2210 may let you pay less early in the year.
Does this include state income tax?
No. It estimates federal self-employment tax and federal income tax only. Most states also tax freelance income, so set aside more if yours does.
What if I also have a W-2 job?
This calculator assumes your freelance business is your only earned income. W-2 wages share the same Social Security wage base and push your freelance profit into higher brackets, and your paycheck withholding may already cover part of the bill — so the estimate here won’t fit. A tax professional or the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help.
Which expenses lower the number?
Ordinary and necessary business expenses, reported on Schedule C: software, supplies, advertising, business travel, a share of your phone, and 50% of business meals, among others. Every dollar you deduct needs a record behind it — a receipt showing who you paid, when, how much and what for.
Keep the receipts that back up your deductions
Proofly receipt scanner: AI extraction, Schedule C mapping and an organized export. Free trial on annual plans.
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