Self-employment tax 2026, with your state and city
Type your 2026 profit: the calculator adds the 15.3% self-employment tax, federal income tax after the QBI deduction, your state and city tax, then says what to put aside and whether an S corp would cost less.
IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Form 1040-ES 2026 and 51 state agencies · How we calculate · Who publishes this
Total tax on this income in 2026
$20,785
Put aside 24% of each payment · $5,196 per quarter
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | $12,010 |
| Federal income tax | $5,790 |
| California income tax | $2,985 |
| QBI deduction used | $12,579 |
| Effective rate on all income | 24.5% |
With an S corp election and a $34,000 salary, about $2,866 less tax (check it).
- Payment 1April 15, 2026
- Payment 2June 15, 2026
- Payment 3September 15, 2026
- Payment 4January 15, 2027
A self-employed person owes two federal taxes on the same profit in 2026. The first is self-employment tax: 12.4% for Social Security on 92.35% of net profit, up to a wage base of $184,500, plus 2.9% for Medicare with no cap and 0.9% more above $200,000 single or $250,000 joint. The second is ordinary income tax, after half of the SE tax, the $16,100 standard deduction ($32,200 joint) and the 20% qualified business income deduction. On $85,000 of profit, a single filer pays $12,010 of SE tax and $5,790 of federal income tax, $17,800 in all before any state tax. That is why the usual advice to save 25 to 30% is too low in some states and too high in others. The IRS expects that money in four payments, on April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. The calculator above does the whole computation for your state, from the 2026 figures of Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and Form 1040-ES, without asking for an email.
The 2026 numbers that drive the result
| What | 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employment tax rate | 15.3% (12.4% + 2.9%) | IRS |
| Share of profit taxed | 92.35% | Form 1040-ES 2026 |
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 | SSA |
| Wage base announced for 2027 | $192,300 | SSA, Oct. 14, 2026 |
| Standard deduction, single / joint | $16,100 / $32,200 | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| QBI threshold, single / joint | $201,750 / $403,500 | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| Minimum QBI deduction (new) | $400 with $1,000 of QBI | Form 1040-ES 2026 |
| 1099-NEC reporting threshold | $2,000 | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| Business mileage | 72.5¢ to June 30, 76¢ from July 1 | IRS |
Why the state decides the last third of the bill
Federal tax is the same in Miami and in Manhattan, and the same in each of the 50 states and DC. What changes from one state to the next is everything stacked on top: a state income tax that runs from nothing in 9 of them to top rates of 12.3 % in California, 10.9 % in New York and 10.75 % in New Jersey; a yearly fee for keeping an LLC alive that ranges from a few dollars to $810 in California; and, in some cities, a tax on business profit that a salaried neighbor never sees. A designer in Philadelphia, a consultant in Portland and a developer in Columbus all pay a city tax on net profit; New York City adds its unincorporated business tax on top of the city income tax.
Most calculators that rank for these searches stop at the federal line, or ask for an email before showing anything. This site carries every state: the filing fee and annual report of an LLC read on each Secretary of State site, the 2026 brackets where the revenue department has published them, the special taxes on S corporations, and the local taxes on self-employment income. Each figure is linked to the page it was read on, with the date. Where a state had not published a figure we could read, the table says n/a rather than guess. Start with the state income tax comparison or open your state below.
LLC costs and income tax, state by state
One line per state and DC. The yearly LLC cost adds the annual or biennial report (spread over its cycle) and any minimum or franchise tax; the last column is the state income tax of a single filer with $75,000 of net profit and no other income. Each name opens the state page, with its brackets, S corp rules and local taxes. The LLC cost page sorts the states from cheapest to dearest.
| State | LLC filing fee | LLC cost per year after | Income tax rates | State tax on $75,000 profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 | $0 | 2 % to 5 % | $3,220 |
| Alaska | n/a | $0 | none | $0 |
| Arizona | $50 | $0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $70 | $810 | 1 % to 12.3 % | $2,241 |
| Colorado | $50 | $25 | 4.4 % | $1,887 |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 | 2 % to 6.99 % | $3,084 |
| Delaware | $110 | $400 | 0 % to 6.6 % | $3,259 |
| District of Columbia | $99 | $150 | 4 % to 10.75 % | $3,084 |
| Florida | $125 | $139 | none | $0 |
| Georgia | $100 | $0 | 4.99 % | $2,730 |
| Hawaii | $51 | $0 | 1.4 % to 11 % | $3,494 |
| Idaho | $100 | $0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | n/a | $0 | 4.95 % | $3,305 |
| Indiana | n/a | $0 | 2.95 % | $2,027 |
| Iowa | $50 | $15 | 3.8 % | $1,589 |
| Kansas | $85 | $45 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $40 | $190 | 3.5 % | $2,322 |
| Louisiana | $125 | $35 | 3 % | $1,705 |
| Maine | $175 | $85 | 5.8 % to 9.15 % | $3,027 |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 | 2 % to 6.5 % | $2,947 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 | 5 % | $3,265 |
| Michigan | $50 | $25 | 4.25 % | $2,712 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | 5.35 % to 9.85 % | $3,216 |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 | 4 % | $2,456 |
| Missouri | $45 | $0 | n/a | n/a |
| Montana | n/a | $0 | 4.7 % to 5.65 % | $2,015 |
| Nebraska | $100 | $0 | 2.46 % to 4.55 % | $2,292 |
| Nevada | n/a | $0 | none | $0 |
| New Hampshire | n/a | $0 | none | $0 |
| New Jersey | $100 | $75 | 1.4 % to 10.75 % | $2,303 |
| New Mexico | n/a | $0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $200 | $30 | 3.9 % to 10.9 % | $3,167 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 | 3.99 % | $2,272 |
| North Dakota | $135 | $50 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | n/a | $0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $25 | 0 % to 4.5 % | $2,591 |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 | 4.75 % to 9.9 % | $5,266 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | 3.07 % | $2,140 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $450 | 3.75 % to 5.99 % | $1,997 |
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 | 1.99 % to 5.21 % | $1,268 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $55 | none | $0 |
| Tennessee | n/a | $0 | none | $0 |
| Texas | $300 | $0 | none | $0 |
| Utah | n/a | $0 | n/a | n/a |
| Vermont | $155 | $45 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 | 2 % to 5.75 % | $3,194 |
| Washington | $180 | $70 | none | $0 |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 | 2.11 % to 4.58 % | $2,303 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 | 3.5 % to 7.65 % | $2,314 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 | none | $0 |
1099 and SE tax
- 1099 tax calculatorFederal, self-employment and state tax on contractor income
- Self-employment tax rateThe 15.3 % rate, the 2026 wage cap and the Medicare surtax
- Schedule SEThe self-employment tax form, line by line
- Schedule CWho files it, the main lines and what lands on line 31
- QBI deductionThe 20 % deduction, its 2026 thresholds and the service business rule
- Home office deductionExclusive use, the $5 method and Form 8829 compared
- Self-employed deductionsThe main write-offs and what each dollar really saves
- 1099 vs W-2Contractor or employee: the tests, the taxes and the rate to ask
- How much to set asideThe share of each payment to keep for taxes, by profit level
- 1099 formsThe $2,000 1099-NEC rule, 1099-K thresholds and the W-9
- Health insurance deductionDeducting your premiums: limits, employer plans and the 2026 credit changes
- SEP IRA vs solo 401(k)How much each self-employed retirement plan lets you shelter in 2026
- Mileage deductionBusiness miles into dollars at the two 2026 IRS rates
Quarterly taxes
- Quarterly estimated taxesWho has to pay during the year, how much, and how to send it
- Estimated tax due datesThe four 2026 deadlines, the months each one covers, and the exceptions
- Safe harbor rulesThe smallest total that protects you from the estimated tax penalty
- Underpayment penaltyWhat a short or late estimated payment costs, quarter by quarter
LLC, S corp, C corp
- LLC vs S corpThe tax difference for your profit, salary and state
- S corp basicsWho can elect, how the profit is taxed, what the owner files
- S corp savings calculatorThe profit where the election starts to pay, and what it saves above it
- Reasonable salaryWhat the IRS expects you to pay yourself, and what each level costs
- LLC taxed as S corpForm 2553: the deadline, the signatures and late election relief
- Form 1120-SThe S corp return: due date, K-1s, payroll forms and penalties
- C corp vs S corpOne tax or two: the 2026 totals at three profit levels
- C corporationThe 21% tax, dividends at 0/15/20% and the 2026 thresholds
- LLC vs corporationLegal form against tax status, and the four tax results side by side
- Business structuresSole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, S corp, C corp: forms and taxes
- Sole proprietorship vs LLCSame federal tax by default; the difference is liability and state cost
- LLC taxesHow an LLC is taxed, which forms it files and when they are due
- Single-member LLCDisregarded entity: Schedule C, SE tax, EIN and W-9 for a one-owner LLC
- LLC vs partnershipGeneral, limited and LLP partnerships against the LLC: liability and SE tax
LLC costs and states
- LLC cost by stateFiling fee, annual fees and 5-year state cost in every state
- State income taxWhat each state takes from a freelance profit, compared side by side
- Local business taxesCity and county taxes on self-employment income, with their sources
Before you file or form anything
When an S corp election starts to pay
An LLC taxed by default pays SE tax on all of its profit. With the S election, only the salary you pay yourself carries the 15.3%; the rest reaches your return as a K-1 distribution. At $120,000 of profit and a $50,000 salary, the federal saving after $2,000 of payroll and filing costs is about $5,312 for a single filer with no state tax. At $40,000 of profit and a $20,000 salary the same move costs -$528. The salary has to be reasonable for the work (IRS), and a few states and cities tax S corporations directly. The LLC vs S corp calculator runs it for your state.
Above the wage base: what stops and what does not
Social Security tax stops at $184,500 of combined wages and net earnings in 2026. Medicare never stops, and the Additional Medicare Tax starts on top. On $250,000 of profit, Social Security takes $22,878, Medicare $6,695 and the extra 0.9% $278 for a single filer. SSA announced on October 14, 2026 that the base rises to $192,300 in 2027, which matters for your first 2027 payment in April. Details on the SE tax rate page.
Avoiding the underpayment penalty
You owe no penalty for 2026 if your withholding and four payments cover the smaller of 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax, or 110% if your 2025 AGI was above $150,000 (Form 1040-ES 2026). Owing less than $1,000 at filing also clears you. The IRS charged 7% a year on late payments in most of 2026 (IRS quarterly rates). The safe harbor calculator gives the smallest amount that keeps you safe.
Why there is no sign-up form here
Accounting firms, payroll companies and LLC formation services rank for these searches because each self-employed visitor is worth hundreds of dollars a year to them. Their calculators ask for an email, a phone number or a consultation before the answer, or leave out the parts that complicate the sale. This site sells none of those services and links to none of them. Every computation runs in your browser and nothing you type leaves it. When you need a decision on your own business, a CPA or an enrolled agent can check the numbers you got here.
Questions freelancers ask
How much is self-employment tax in 2026?
It is 15.3% of 92.35% of your net profit: 12.4% for Social Security on the first $184,500 of combined wages and SE earnings, and 2.9% for Medicare on all of it. Above $200,000 single or $250,000 joint, another 0.9% applies. Half of the 15.3% part is deducted from your income (Schedule SE).
What percentage of my 1099 income should I save for taxes?
It depends on profit, state and other income. A single filer with $85,000 of profit and no state tax owes about 21 % of the profit to the IRS for 2026, SE tax included. Add your state rate on top, and more if a salary already fills the low brackets. The calculator on this page gives your own rate.
When are the 2026 quarterly estimated tax payments due?
April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027, for income earned in 2026 (Form 1040-ES 2026). You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return and pay the whole balance by February 1, 2027. Most states use the same four dates.
Do I pay self-employment tax if I also have a W-2 job?
Yes, on net earnings of $400 or more. Your wages count first toward the $184,500 Social Security base, so with a high salary the 12.4% part of SE tax shrinks or disappears, while the 2.9% Medicare part stays on every dollar of profit (Schedule SE, line 8).
Is an LLC taxed differently from a sole proprietorship?
Not by default. A single-member LLC is disregarded for federal tax: its profit goes on Schedule C and carries the same SE and income tax as a sole proprietor's (IRS). What changes is the state: filing fees, annual reports and, in states such as California, a minimum tax. The S corp election is what changes the federal math.
Does this site use 2026 or 2025 tax brackets?
2026, from Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the 2026 Form 1040-ES package: brackets start at 10% up to $12,400 single and $24,800 joint, and 37% applies above $640,600 single. The figures were read on October 15, 2026 and each page links to its source.
Is this tax advice for my business?
No. The calculators apply the published 2026 rules to the numbers you type and show every line of the computation, but they cannot see your whole return: credits, other income, losses carried forward or special state rules. For a decision such as electing S corp status, ask a CPA or enrolled agent to review your figures.
Official sources behind this page
- IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax brackets, standard deduction, QBI thresholds, section 179 (read 2026-10-15)
- IRS, Form 1040-ES (2026), Estimated Tax for Individuals (read 2026-10-15)
- Social Security Administration, 2027 COLA fact sheet: taxable maximum $184,500 in 2026, $192,300 in 2027 (read 2026-10-15)
- IRS, Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)
- IRS, Instructions for Schedule SE (Form 1040), 2025 edition (read 2026-10-15)
- IRS, Instructions for Form 8995, Qualified Business Income Deduction Simplified Computation (read 2026-10-15)
- IRS, Publication 505 (2026), Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax (read 2026-10-15)
- IRS, S corporation compensation and medical insurance issues (read 2026-10-15)
Published by Radif Partners
Independent publisher of 2026 self-employment tax and business-structure calculators
Figures updated on · Editorial policy · Contact
Estimates only, for tax year 2026, from IRS and state documents; your return can differ (credits, other income, deductions we do not model). This is general information, not tax advice for your situation: for a decision on your own business, a CPA or enrolled agent can review your numbers.
Tax year 2026, IRS, SSA and state figures last updated on