Estimate only, not tax advice. Check IRS.gov or a tax professional before you pay.
The honest answer is "it depends on your profit," but most freelancers land somewhere between about 18% and 30% of net profit for federal taxes, plus whatever your state charges. Here's where that range comes from, and how to get your own number.
Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare. It's 15.3% of 92.35% of your profit, which works out to about 14.1% of every dollar of profit until you pass the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500. That part applies from your first dollar over $400, regardless of your income tax bracket.
Income tax is graduated. In 2026 you subtract half of your SE tax and the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) and then apply the 10%, 12%, 22% and higher brackets.
| Net profit | SE tax | Income tax | Total federal | % of profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $4,239 | $1,178 | $5,417 | 18.1% |
| $60,000 | $8,478 | $4,511 | $12,989 | 21.6% |
| $100,000 | $14,130 | $11,616 | $25,745 | 25.7% |
Standard deduction only; no credits, QBI deduction or state tax. Your numbers will differ.
Move a fixed percentage of every payment you receive into a separate savings account the day it lands. Start with the percentage the calculator gives you, add your state rate, and round up a little. If you overshoot, the extra comes back as a refund or rolls into next year.
To avoid the underpayment penalty, you generally need to pay, on time across the four due dates, the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000). Use your own numbers below.
Estimate only, not tax advice. Figures are for tax year 2026 from IRS sources (Form 1040-ES, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the pages listed under Sources) and the SSA. Confirm with IRS.gov or a tax professional.
Related: Full calculator · How much of your 1099 income to set aside for 2026 taxes, with worked examples using the 2026 IRS brackets and a free calculator. · Free 2026 1099 quarterly tax calculator plus a step-by-step guide to figuring and paying estimated taxes as an independent contractor. · What self-employment tax is, how the 15.3% rate and 92.35% rule work, the 2026 Social Security wage base, and the half-SE-tax deduction. · The 2026 quarterly estimated tax due dates from IRS Form 1040-ES, which months each payment covers, and what is known so far about 2027. · How the IRS underpayment penalty works and how the 90% / 100% / 110% safe harbor rules let freelancers avoid it in 2026. · How to pay 2026 quarterly estimated taxes online through IRS Direct Pay, your IRS Online Account, EFTPS or a card, with the fees for each. · Quarterly estimated taxes for rideshare and food-delivery drivers in 2026: what counts as income, the mileage deduction, 1099s and when to pay. · How Etsy and online sellers figure and pay 2026 quarterly estimated taxes: profit, 1099-K rules, self-employment tax and due dates. · New to freelancing? When you must start quarterly estimated taxes, the no-tax-last-year exception, and how to set your first payment. · How to handle taxes on side hustle income when you also have a W-2 job: estimated payments, raising W-4 withholding, and the Social Security cap. · The difference between Form 1099-NEC and Form 1099-K, the 2026 reporting thresholds ($2,000 and $20,000/200 transactions), and how to avoid double counting. · The official 2026 IRS standard mileage rates for business (72.5 cents through June 30, 76 cents from July 1), how to claim them and what records to keep. · How the home office deduction works for self-employed people: the $5 per square foot simplified method (up to 300 sq ft), the regular method and the exclusive-use rule. · Calculate 2026 quarterly taxes for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart driving, step by step: earnings, split-year mileage rates, profit and a per-quarter payment. · Missed a 2026 quarterly estimated tax payment? How to catch up, how the IRS underpayment penalty works, and options like Form 2210 and the annualized method. · Have a W-2 job and freelance income? Compare raising W-4 withholding with making quarterly estimated payments, with a 2026 worked example and calculator. · A monthly savings plan for freelancer taxes in 2026: how much to move aside each month at different profit levels, and how that lines up with quarterly due dates.
A spreadsheet that groups your 1099 income and expenses by IRS quarter, applies the rates you choose and tracks the payments you've made. $14, one-time. See QuarterSet · Buy on Payhip
QuarterSet, TallySheet, DriveLog, ShopTally, ClientFlow and LedgerLite. See the bundle