1099 Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)
What you actually keep from self-employment income — after the 15.3% self-employment tax, 2026 federal brackets, the QBI deduction and your state — plus the exact amount to set aside every quarter.
How the math works — every step, in order
- Net profit. Gross 1099 income minus business expenses.
- Self-employment tax. Net profit × 92.35% is your SE tax base. On it: 12.4% Social Security (2026 cap: the first $184,500) + 2.9% Medicare, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000 single / $250,000 married.
- Half-SE deduction. Half of the 15.3% portion is deducted before income tax — the law treats it like the employer's share.
- Standard deduction. $16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly for 2026.
- QBI deduction. Most self-employed people deduct 20% of qualified business income (§199A). Simplified here: full below $201,750 single / $403,500 married taxable income, phased out above.
- Federal brackets. The official 2026 tables — 10% to 37%.
- State estimate. Your state's 2026 treatment: none (9 states), flat, or graduated (approximated by an interpolated effective rate, always labeled).
- Quarterly set-aside. Total annual tax ÷ 4, mapped to the official 2026 due dates.
A worked example: $100,000 of 1099 income in Texas (single, 2026)
Self-employment tax comes to $14,130, federal income tax (after the half-SE, standard and QBI deductions) $8,235, and Texas adds nothing. You keep $77,635 a year — $6,470 a month — an effective rate of 22.4%, and you'd set aside $5,591 each quarter. The same income in California: about $6,304 a month with a $6,089 quarterly set-aside. Run your own numbers above — the result updates instantly.
Set aside a real number, not a guess
"Save 30% for taxes" is the advice everyone repeats — and it's wrong in both directions. At $40,000 in a no-tax state the model shows closer to 19%; at $150,000 in Oregon it's about 34%. Over-saving starves your cash flow; under-saving means a painful April plus penalties. The calculator gives you a quarterly dollar figure tied to the official 2026 due dates and safe-harbor rules.
Comparing a 1099 contract against a W-2 offer?
Open the comparison field above or use the dedicated 1099 vs W-2 calculator. With the QBI deduction in the picture, the tax-only gap is smaller than most people think — e.g. roughly $92,100 of 1099 income matches a $90,000 Texas W-2 salary after taxes — but employer benefits are the real difference, and no calculator can price your health plan for you.
Your state changes the answer
Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — tax no self-employment income at all. Fifteen use a flat rate; the rest are graduated. See the full state-by-state guide or jump straight to California, Texas, Florida, New York or Pennsylvania.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I set aside for taxes on 1099 income?
It depends on income, state and filing status — there is no universal percentage. In this model, common single-filer scenarios land between roughly 19% of net profit ($40,000 in Texas) and 34% ($150,000 in Oregon). Use the calculator above for a specific quarterly dollar amount.
What is the self-employment tax rate in 2026?
15.3% — 12.4% Social Security on the first $184,500 of net earnings plus 2.9% Medicare on all of them — applied to 92.35% of net profit, with an additional 0.9% Medicare tax above $200,000 single / $250,000 married. Half of the 15.3% portion is deductible.
Do I pay more tax on 1099 income than on a W-2 salary?
You pay both halves of FICA (15.3% vs 7.65%), but you also get the half-SE deduction, business expense write-offs and usually the 20% QBI deduction. The take-home parity point is often only a few percent above the W-2 salary — before benefits, which usually decide the comparison.
When are quarterly estimated taxes due in 2026?
April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, then January 15, 2027 (skippable if you file and pay in full by February 1, 2027). Source: 2026 IRS Form 1040-ES.
Does this calculator work for my state?
Yes — all 50 states plus DC with 2026 rates. State results are labeled approximations: state deductions, exemptions, credits and local (city/county) taxes are not modeled.
Is this tax advice?
No — planning estimates only, built from published IRS, SSA and Tax Foundation figures (all listed on the methodology page). Consult a CPA or enrolled agent for your actual situation.