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1099 tax calculator 2026

If you work for yourself, nobody withholds taxes from your payments. Enter what you expect to earn and spend this year to estimate how much to set aside and how much to pay each quarter.

Your 2026 income

Materials, tools, phone, insurance, advertising… Keep your receipts. For your vehicle, use the mileage section or your real vehicle costs, not both.

Your vehicle

2026 IRS standard mileage rate: 72.5 cents per mile (check irs.gov for changes). Count trips to jobs, suppliers and estimates, not your commute to a regular workplace. If you use this rate, do not also deduct gas, repairs or insurance for that vehicle.

Your situation

Your employer already withholds taxes from your paycheck. The calculator shows only the extra tax caused by your 1099 work, which is higher when you also have a salary.

Look up your state's rate. For example, Illinois is 4.95%. Some states, like Texas and Florida, have no income tax.

Set aside for taxes

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— of your profit

Mileage deduction
—
Net profit
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Self-employment tax
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Federal income tax (estimate)
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State income tax (estimate)
—
Quarterly estimated payment
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2026 due dates: April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.

Rough estimate using 2026 IRS figures and the standard deduction. It is not tax advice.

What taxes does a 1099 worker pay?

  • Self-employment tax: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of your net profit. In 2026, the Social Security part stops at $184,500 of earnings. An extra 0.9% Medicare tax applies above $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly).
  • Federal income tax on your profit, after deducting half of your self-employment tax, the standard deduction ($16,100 single or $32,200 married filing jointly in 2026) and, if you qualify, the 20% qualified business income deduction.
  • State income tax, which depends on your state. Some states have none.

Example

You charge $60,000 in the year and spend $10,000 on your business, so your net profit is $50,000. As a single filer with no state tax, the calculator estimates about $7,065 of self-employment tax and $2,667 of federal income tax: about $9,732 in total, or 19.5% of your profit. That is about $2,433 per quarter.

Quarterly estimated taxes

If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS generally expects you to pay during the year in four installments with Form 1040-ES. For 2026 income, the due dates are April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Paying late can bring penalties, even if you pay everything when you file your return.

Tips to keep more of your money

  • Track your business miles. In 2026 the IRS standard rate is 72.5 cents per mile: 10,000 miles to jobs and suppliers lower your profit by $7,250. Enter them in "Your vehicle".
  • Track every business expense: materials, tools, phone, insurance. Expenses lower your profit, and taxes are calculated on profit.
  • Open a separate account and move your tax percentage there every time a client pays you.
  • Work with a tax professional, especially in your first year or if you have other income, employees or a spouse with a job.

Limits of this estimate

If you also have a W-2 job, enter your wages: your employer already withholds tax from your paycheck, so the calculator shows only the extra tax caused by your 1099 work. It assumes you take the standard deduction and that the qualified business income deduction applies in full. Other income (such as investments or rentals), credits (such as the child tax credit), itemized deductions and high incomes change the result. It is a planning tool, not tax advice.

Sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction), Social Security Administration (2026 wage base), IRS Form 1040-ES. Last reviewed: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage should I set aside for 1099 taxes?

Many self-employed people set aside 20% to 30% of their profit. Use the calculator with your numbers: the result shows the percentage that fits your income and your state.

Do I pay self-employment tax if I earn very little?

If your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more in the year, you generally have to file and pay self-employment tax.

Is the 1099 the same as my income?

No. The 1099 forms show what clients paid you. You pay tax on your profit: what you received minus your business expenses.

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