1099 Tax Calculator
Sketch how much to set aside each quarter from freelance or contractor income — self-employment tax, a federal income-tax estimate, and an optional flat state rate. Click any i for detail.
1099 / self-employment inputs
Gross 1099 income ($)iGross income Total payments before expenses — invoices, platforms, and cash gigs for the year. |
|
|---|---|
Business expenses ($)iExpenses Ordinary and necessary costs that reduce Schedule C profit (software, mileage, supplies). Keep receipts. |
|
Filing statusiFiling status Controls federal brackets, the standard deduction sketch, and Additional Medicare thresholds. |
|
Other W-2 wages ($)iOther wages Day-job wages that already use Social Security wage base — reduces remaining SS room on SE income. |
|
State tax rate (%)iState rate Simple flat sketch on net profit. Use 0 for no-tax states. Graduated state returns need a full state return. |
|
Estimated-tax installmentsiInstallments IRS estimated tax is usually four payments. Choose 4 for a classic quarterly set-aside. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter expected gross 1099 income and deductible expenses.
- Pick filing status and any W-2 wages that share the Social Security wage base.
- Add a flat state rate if your state taxes this income.
- Choose quarterly or monthly set-asides and review the itemized tax sketch.
Results explained
The headline is a cash set-aside per installment. The breakdown separates self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare on 92.35% of net profit) from a federal income-tax sketch and a flat state sketch. It does not subtract withholding you already paid on W-2 wages.
Quick reference: SE tax building blocks
TY2026 educational constants used in this sketch.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| SE base | 92.35% of net profit |
| Social Security | 12.4% up to wage base (shared with W-2) |
| Medicare | 2.9% + 0.9% Additional Medicare over threshold |
| ½ SE tax deduction | Modeled against federal taxable income |
Safe-harbor estimated-tax rules and quarterly due dates are not applied here.
How the estimate is built
Net profit = income − expenses. SE tax ≈ 15.3% of 92.35% of net profit (with SS wage-base room after W-2 wages). Federal tax uses TY2026 brackets on (profit + wages − ½ SE tax − standard deduction). State tax ≈ net profit × your rate. Divide the sum by the installment count.
Example scenario
A contractor with $72,000 gross, $12,000 expenses, no W-2 wages, and a 5% state rate sees roughly $9,000+ of SE tax plus federal and state sketches — often a four-figure quarterly set-aside depending on filing status.
FAQ
Is this the same as paycheck withholding?
No. 1099 payers usually do not withhold income tax. You typically make estimated payments yourself.
Does this handle QBI or credits?
No. Qualified business income, retirement contributions, and credits can change the federal bill — use tax software or a pro for those.
What if I also have a W-2 job?
Enter those wages so Social Security tax does not double-count the wage base. Federal tax still uses combined income in this sketch.