| Platform / source | Line | Multiple / all platforms | |
| Gross 1099 income | 1A | Schedule C line 1 (gross receipts) | $42,000 |
| Miles Jan 1 – Jun 30 × 72.5¢/mi | 2A | IRS Notice 2026-10, per irs.gov, opened 2026-09-25 | $5,438 (7,500 mi) |
| Miles Jul 1 – Dec 31 × 76¢/mi | 2B | IRS Announcement 2026-11 (IRB 2026-29), opened 2026-09-25 | $5,700 (7,500 mi) |
| Mileage deduction (2A + 2B) | 2C | Schedule C, line 9 | $11,138 |
| Other business expenses | 2D | Phone, equipment, supplies | $1,500 |
| Total deductions (before SE deduction) | 2E | 2C + 2D | $12,638 |
| Net self-employment income | 2F | 1A minus 2E = Schedule C line 31 | $29,363 |
| SE tax base (net SE income × 92.35%) | 3A | Schedule SE line 4a (2F × 0.9235) | $27,116 |
| Social Security tax portion (3A × 12.4%, up to $184,500 wage base) | 3B | Schedule SE line 5 (capped at SS wage base) | $3,362 |
| Medicare tax portion (3A × 2.9%, no cap) | 3C | Schedule SE line 6 | $786 |
| Self-employment tax (3B + 3C) | 3D | Schedule SE line 12 | $4,149 |
| Deductible half of SE tax (3D × 50%) | 3E | Form 1040, Schedule 1, line 15 | $2,074 |
Many freelancers at this level explore forming an LLC with an S-corp election, which may change how that income is taxed. Our S-Corp Savings Calculator shows the math for your numbers.
See the S-corp math → Educational math only, not tax or legal advice. Whether an entity change fits your situation depends on factors this tool cannot see.| Adjusted gross income (AGI) | 4A | 2F minus 3E = Form 1040 line 11 | $27,288 |
| Qualified Business Income deduction (20% of QBI) | 4A2 | IRC Sec. 199A, min(20% x QBI, phase-out per Rev. Proc. 2025-32 Sec. 4.26). Source: irs.gov, opened 2026-09-25 | $5,458 |
| Standard deduction | 4B | 2026: Single $16,100 / MFJ $32,200 / HoH $24,150 | $16,100 |
| Filing status | 4C | Form 1040 line 2 | Single |
| Taxable income (4A minus 4A2 minus 4B) | 4D | Form 1040 line 15 | $5,730 |
| Federal income tax (bracket math) | 4E | 2026 tax brackets (IRS Rev. Proc. 25-32) | $573 |
| State income tax estimate (upper-bound, top rate) | 4F | 4D × state's top marginal rate (educational estimate, see note below) | Not included (state skipped, top-rate estimate not included) |
| Total estimated tax (SE + federal + state) | 4G | 3D + 4E + 4F | $4,722 |
| Effective rate on gross income | 4H | 4G / 1A | 11.2% |
| Annual estimated tax owed | 5A | Line 4G | $4,722 |
| Per-quarter payment (5A ÷ 4) | 5B | Equal quarterly installments | $1,180 |
| Q1 payment: due April 15, 2026 | Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 income period | $1,180 |
| Q2 payment: due June 15, 2026 | Q2 | Apr 1 – May 31 income period | $1,180 |
| Q3 payment: due September 15, 2026 | Q3 | Jun 1 – Aug 31 income period | $1,180 |
| Q4 payment: due January 15, 2027 | Q4 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 income period | $1,180 |
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At your $29,363 net, an S-corp probably won't pay off yet. Here's what will:
This worksheet is designed to show you the exact IRS math for your self-employment taxes, step by step. It mirrors the calculation flow you would follow if you filled out Schedule SE and Schedule C by hand. The goal is not to replace your CPA, it is to help you understand the numbers before your appointment. If you just want a fast number and do not need the line items, the Self-Employed Tax Estimator gives you that in about a minute instead.
Fill in your gross income, miles, and expenses in the input section above. The worksheet auto-calculates and fills in every line. When you are ready, click Print Worksheet to get a clean printable version you can file with your records. Driving for a platform specifically? The Gig Worker Tax Calculator handles platform fees and per-platform mileage that this worksheet does not break out.
Line 2C, mileage deduction: The current IRS standard mileage rate is 76 cents per mile, effective July 1, 2026 (Announcement 2026-11, published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-29; it was 72.5 cents January through June per Notice 2026-10, see irs.gov, both opened 2026-09-25). You can only use this rate if you have not claimed depreciation or Section 179 on the vehicle in a prior year. Actual expense method is an alternative, but most gig drivers choose standard because it is simpler and usually produces a larger deduction.
Line 3A, SE tax base (92.35%): The IRS applies this factor because an employee's SE tax equivalent (the employer's half) is excluded from gross income. You multiply net SE income by 0.9235 before applying the 15.3% rate. This is built into Schedule SE automatically.
Line 3B, Social Security cap: The Social Security portion of SE tax (12.4%) applies only up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026. If your SE base exceeds that, SS tax stops at $184,500 and only Medicare (2.9%) continues above it. High-income consultants and multi-platform drivers sometimes hit this cap.
Line 4B, standard deduction: For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly, and $24,150 for head of household. If you have significant itemized deductions (mortgage interest, state taxes paid), compare your itemized total to the standard deduction before choosing.
Gig workers do not have an employer withholding taxes from each payment. The IRS expects you to send in quarterly estimates four times per year. Missing all four quarters and paying in full in April can trigger an underpayment penalty, even if you pay the entire amount owed.
The 2026 Q2 payment is due June 15, 2026, a Monday, so no weekend shift applies (the IRS due-date rule: if a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the payment is on time if made the next business day; see irs.gov/faqs/estimated-tax, opened 2026-09-25). A missed or short quarterly payment triggers a penalty calculated per quarter, at roughly 7-8% annualized on the shortfall. The best protection is the safe harbor rule noted at the bottom of Section 5 above.
This worksheet is designed to provide educational estimates of self-employment tax and federal income tax obligations based on the inputs you enter. Results are not tax advice and should not be used as a substitute for guidance from a qualified tax professional. Tax laws may have changed since this worksheet was last updated. The mileage rate and tax constants used reflect 2026 published IRS figures. State income tax estimates are provided as a general reference and may not reflect your actual state tax liability. Always verify quarterly estimated tax amounts with IRS Form 1040-ES or a qualified tax preparer. See our Terms for the full disclaimer.
For gig workers, freelancers, 1099 contractors, side hustlers, and small business owners. Fill in your numbers. The worksheet shows every step: mileage deduction, SE tax base, Child Tax Credit, federal income tax bracket, quarterly payment schedule. Print it and put it in your tax file.
Last reviewed August 29, 2026
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