Free Tax Calculators for Self-Employed & Freelancers

Calculate your self-employment tax, quarterly estimates, capital gains, and business structure savings. Multi-step tools with all 50 state rates. No signup required.

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✅ Data sourced from IRS & state tax agencies✅ Updated for 2026 tax year✅ No sign-up required✅ 100% free

Why Use Our Tax Calculators?

Accurate IRS Formulas

Every calculator implements the exact formulas from IRS Schedule SE and Revenue Procedure 2025-32 — the same steps a CPA follows. Self-employment tax at 15.3%, the 92.35% net earnings adjustment, the 50% SE deduction, QBI deduction, and all seven federal brackets. Updated automatically when rates change.

All 50 States Covered

State tax rates vary dramatically — from zero income tax in Florida and Texas to 13.3% top rates in California. Our state-specific pages include each state's tax brackets, standard deduction, LLC fees, sales tax, and quarterly deadlines. Compare your total burden across all 50 states in seconds.

Built for Self-Employed People

Generic tax calculators ignore the realities of freelance life: irregular income, quarterly estimates, business deductions, and structure decisions. Our tools walk through your actual situation — multi-step wizards that produce a quarterly payment plan, deduction checklist, and LLC vs S-Corp comparison you can act on.

Tax Calculators

Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Calculate your 15.3% self-employment tax including Social Security and Medicare. Multi-step wizard with deduction optimization.

Quarterly Tax Calculator

Estimate your 1040-ES quarterly payments. Avoid IRS penalties with accurate payment schedules.

Capital Gains Tax Calculator

Calculate taxes on stock profits, crypto gains, and investment income. Short-term vs long-term rates.

LLC vs S-Corp Optimizer

Compare sole proprietorship, LLC, and S-Corp tax treatment. Find out how much you could save.

State Tax Comparison Tool

Compare income tax, sales tax, and business costs across all 50 states. Find the best state for your business.

State Tax Calculators

Self-employment tax rates vary by state. Select your state for personalized rates, filing requirements, and deadlines.

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Tax Guides & Pillar Articles

TX
Complete Guide to Self-Employment Tax 2026
TX
Freelancer Tax Deductions Master List
TX
Quarterly Estimated Taxes Explained
TX
1099 vs W-2: Tax Comparison Guide
TX
LLC vs S-Corp: Which Saves You More?

About TaxCalc

TaxCalc was built for the 60+ million Americans who work for themselves. Freelancers, contractors, gig workers, and small business owners shouldn't need a $400 CPA visit just to understand what they owe. Our calculators implement the exact IRS formulas — self-employment tax, income tax brackets, QBI deduction, and quarterly estimates — combined with all 50 states' tax structures, so you get accurate estimates in seconds.

All federal data comes from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and IR-2025-103 (2026 inflation adjustments). State data comes from each state's Department of Revenue, cross-verified against the Tax Foundation's annual survey. Rates refresh automatically when governments change them.

We're transparent about our methodology (read it here) and honest about our limits: estimates only, never advice. Full disclaimer.

Frequently Asked Tax Questions

How much is self-employment tax in 2026?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net profit — 12.4% for Social Security (on the first $184,500 of earnings) and 2.9% for Medicare. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax applies on income above $200,000 (single filers). Use our free self-employment tax calculator for your exact amount including deductions and credits.
When are quarterly estimated taxes due?
Quarterly estimated taxes are due April 15, June 16, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes, the IRS requires quarterly payments. Our quarterly tax calculator generates your personalized payment schedule with safe harbor calculations.
Should I form an LLC or S-Corp for my business?
An LLC provides liability protection but doesn't change your tax rate by default — you still pay self-employment tax on all profit. Electing S-Corp status can save thousands if your profit exceeds $60,000-80,000 because you only pay SE tax on your reasonable salary, not distributions. Use our LLC vs S-Corp optimizer to see your exact savings.
What tax deductions can freelancers and self-employed claim?
Key deductions include: home office ($5/sq ft up to $1,500), health insurance premiums (100% deductible), retirement contributions (SEP IRA up to $69,000 or Solo 401k up to $69,500), business equipment (Section 179 up to $1,250,000), vehicle expenses ($0.70/mile), internet and phone (business-use percentage), continuing education, business insurance, and professional services. See our complete freelancer tax deductions guide.
How do 1099 taxes work compared to W-2?
As a 1099 independent contractor, no taxes are withheld from your pay — you're responsible for paying both the employee AND employer portions of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% total self-employment tax). You must make quarterly estimated payments. As a W-2 employee, your employer withholds taxes and pays half of your FICA taxes. A 1099 worker typically needs to earn 30-50% more than a W-2 employee to have equivalent take-home pay.
Which state has the lowest taxes for self-employed workers?
Nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. However, some no-tax states have higher sales tax or property tax. Compare your total tax burden across all 50 states using our state tax comparison tool.