$
Filing Status
Self-employed and 1099 workers pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
$
Leave at $0 to use the standard deduction. Only enter if your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, charitable gifts, etc.) exceed the standard deduction for your filing status.
State tax coming soon — this calculator covers federal tax only.
Estimated Federal Tax
$8,501
2026 tax year · Federal only
Gross Income
$75,000
Effective Tax Rate
11.3%
On total gross income
Self-Employment Tax
$0
15.3% of net SE income
Take-Home Pay
$66,499
After federal tax
Tax Bracket Breakdown
| Bracket | Rate | Income in bracket | Tax owed |
|---|
How it works
How to Use This Calculator
1
Enter your income
Type your total annual gross income — before any taxes or deductions are taken out.
2
Choose filing status
Your filing status determines your standard deduction and the income thresholds for each bracket.
3
Select employment type
Self-employed and 1099 workers pay an additional 15.3% self-employment tax that W-2 employees don't.
4
Read your results
See your total federal tax, effective rate, and take-home pay — updated instantly as you type.
The math behind the results
Taxable Income = Gross Income − Standard Deduction − Additional Deductions
Tax = Sum of (income in each bracket × bracket rate)
Effective Rate = Total Tax ÷ Gross Income × 100
SE Tax = Net SE Income × 0.9235 × 0.153 (self-employed only)
Tax = Sum of (income in each bracket × bracket rate)
Effective Rate = Total Tax ÷ Gross Income × 100
SE Tax = Net SE Income × 0.9235 × 0.153 (self-employed only)
What you're seeing
Understanding Your Results
| Result | What it means | Key insight |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Federal Tax | Your total federal income tax liability for the year, based on 2026 brackets and your standard deduction. | Withhold this from paychecks or pay quarterly |
| Gross Income | Your total income before any taxes, deductions, or adjustments. The starting point for all calculations. | Not the same as taxable income |
| Effective Tax Rate | Total federal tax ÷ gross income. This is the real average rate you pay, not your top marginal rate. | Almost always lower than your bracket rate |
| Self-Employment Tax | The 15.3% Social Security and Medicare tax self-employed workers pay on net earnings. W-2 employees split this with employers. | Deduct half from gross income (above the line) |
| Take-Home Pay | Gross income minus federal income tax (and SE tax if applicable). This is your annual net pay before state taxes. | Add state tax estimate for total picture |
| Bracket Breakdown | Shows exactly how your taxable income is divided across each federal tax bracket and what each portion costs. | Only the last bracket is your marginal rate |
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The U.S. uses a progressive tax system — you don't pay one flat rate on all your income. You pay each bracket's rate only on the income that falls within it. If you're single earning $60,000 in 2026, you pay 10% on the first $11,925, 12% on income up to $48,475, and 22% on the rest — but your effective rate (total tax ÷ gross income) ends up around 13–14%, not 22%.
Your marginal rate is the rate on your last dollar of income — the highest bracket you fall into. Your effective rate is your total tax bill divided by total income — what you actually pay on average. Being in the 22% bracket doesn't mean you pay 22% on everything, only on the portion of income that falls in that bracket.
A safe rule is to set aside 25–30% of every payment received. This covers federal income tax plus self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare). If your state has income tax, add another 3–10%. Setting aside 30% gives most freelancers under $150k/year a comfortable buffer.
If you're self-employed, you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare taxes — 15.3% total on the first $176,100 of net earnings (2026). W-2 employees split this with their employer. The good news: you can deduct half of your SE tax when calculating your adjusted gross income, reducing your income tax bill.
For 2026, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, and $22,500 for head of household. This amount is subtracted from your gross income before calculating tax. About 90% of Americans take the standard deduction because it exceeds their itemized deductions.
If you're self-employed or have significant non-W-2 income, you typically pay estimated taxes four times per year. Standard IRS due dates: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. Underpaying can result in a penalty at tax time.
No — moving into a higher bracket never reduces your take-home pay. That's a common myth. Your overall tax bill always goes up when you earn more, but your after-tax income always increases too. Only the additional dollars earned above the bracket threshold are taxed at the higher rate, never your existing income.
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