Freelancer Tax Estimator — Self-Employment & Income Tax
Estimate what you'll owe in self-employment and income tax — plus your quarterly set-aside and take-home pay — in seconds.
In short: subtract deductible expenses from your gross income to get net profit, apply your self-employment and income tax rates to it, then set aside roughly a quarter of that each quarter. It's an estimate — confirm with an accountant.
Your numbers
Total self-employed / freelance revenue
Software, hardware, home office, travel, etc.
US SE tax ≈ 15.3%
Your effective income-tax %
Estimate only. Tax rules, brackets and deductions vary by country and situation — set the rates to match yours and confirm with an accountant before filing.
Estimated tax
Total estimated tax
Effective rate 34.0%
Quarterly
$7,647
set aside / quarter
Take-home
$51,414
after tax & expenses
How we calculated it
- Gross income − expenses$90,000 − $8,000$82,000
- Self-employment tax (15.3%)on net profit$12,546
- Income tax (22%)on net profit$18,040
- Total taxSE + income tax$30,586
Track income & expenses all year
Manage your clients, rates & invoices in LancerWise — free. Log income and expenses as you go so tax season is just a number you already know.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate my freelance taxes?+
Subtract your deductible business expenses from your gross income to get your net profit. Then apply your self-employment tax rate and your income tax rate to that net profit, and add them together. This calculator does the math and also shows what to set aside each quarter.
What is self-employment tax?+
Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare contributions that an employer would normally split with you. In the US it is about 15.3% of your net self-employment profit. As a freelancer you pay both halves yourself, so it must be budgeted on top of income tax. Rates differ by country — set the field to match yours.
How much should I set aside for taxes as a freelancer?+
A common rule of thumb is to set aside 25–30% of your net profit, but the right number is your combined self-employment and income tax rate. Use the effective rate this tool shows, and move that share of every payment into a separate tax savings account.
What are quarterly estimated taxes?+
Self-employed people generally pay tax in four estimated instalments through the year instead of a single year-end bill. This tool divides your estimated annual tax by four so you know roughly what to pay each quarter. Check your local deadlines and thresholds.
Which business expenses are tax-deductible?+
Ordinary and necessary costs of running your freelance business are typically deductible — software and subscriptions, hardware, a home-office portion, internet and phone, professional services, travel and education. Keep receipts, and confirm specifics with an accountant.