Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Last updated: March 19, 2026
Calculate your 2025 self-employment tax — including Social Security, Medicare, and the Additional Medicare Tax — in seconds.
Your Schedule C net profit (or Schedule K-1 SE income) after business expenses.
Affects the Additional Medicare Tax threshold.
Wages from an employer. Reduces your remaining Social Security wage base cap.
💡 2025 Rates: 15.3% SE tax (12.4% SS + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net SE income • SS wage base cap: $168,600 • Additional Medicare: 0.9% over $200K
How Self-Employment Tax Works
If you work for yourself — as a freelancer, independent contractor, sole proprietor, or gig worker — you pay self-employment (SE) tax in addition to income tax. SE tax covers your Social Security and Medicare contributions, which an employer would normally split with you.
The IRS only taxes 92.35% of your net SE income — this mirrors the fact that employees don't pay FICA on the employer's share. You can also deduct half of your SE tax as an above-the-line adjustment, reducing your AGI.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is self-employment tax calculated for 2025?
SE tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) applied to 92.35% of your net self-employment income. Social Security tax applies only to the first $168,600 of combined wages and SE income. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to earnings over $200,000 ($250,000 MFJ).
What is the Social Security wage base for 2025?
The 2025 Social Security wage base is $168,600. If you also earn W-2 wages, those count first — reducing the SE income subject to Social Security tax.
Can I deduct half of my self-employment tax?
Yes. The "employer-equivalent" portion (50% of your regular SE tax) is deductible on Schedule 1, Line 15. This lowers your adjusted gross income but does not reduce net SE income for the SE tax calculation.
Who pays the Additional Medicare Tax?
The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies when your combined W-2 wages and SE income exceed $200,000 (single), $250,000 (MFJ), or $125,000 (MFS). Unlike regular SE tax, there's no deduction for this portion.