🇺🇸 United States Freelancer Tax Calculator
Estimate your after-tax income as a self-employed worker in United States.
Estimated after-tax income
$43,810
≈ $16,190 in tax & contributions
Includes the 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare, both halves) plus federal income tax. State income tax and the half-SE-tax deduction are approximated.
Estimate only — not tax advice. Figures are estimates based on publicly available tax rules and may not reflect your full circumstances. See our methodology & sources. Always confirm with an official tax authority or a licensed adviser before making decisions.
Self-employment tax in United States
Self-employed Americans pay self-employment tax (15.3%, covering both halves of Social Security and Medicare) on top of income tax, but can deduct half of it and many business expenses. It's a structurally different calculation from W-2 payroll — use the freelancer calculator.
Freelance taxation differs from employee payroll in three ways: who pays the social contributions, how and when you file, and which expenses you can deduct. The calculator above gives a simplified estimate — for anything beyond a ballpark, especially around deductible expenses and special regimes, speak to a qualified accountant in United States.
Want the employee picture instead? Use the United States salary calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
+How are freelancers taxed in United States?
Self-employed Americans pay self-employment tax (15.3%, covering both halves of Social Security and Medicare) on top of income tax, but can deduct half of it and many business expenses. It's a structurally different calculation from W-2 payroll — use the freelancer calculator.
+Is freelance tax higher than employee tax in United States?
Self-employed workers often shoulder social contributions an employer would otherwise share, but can deduct business expenses. The net effect varies — use the calculator above for a ballpark and confirm with an accountant.
Estimate only — not tax advice. Figures are estimates based on publicly available tax rules and may not reflect your full circumstances. See our methodology & sources (last reviewed June 2026). Always confirm with an official tax authority or a licensed adviser before making decisions.