“How much do I actually keep?” is a different question from “how much tax do I owe” — it starts from your gross revenue, not your net profit. This calculator answers it directly: enter what you billed and what you spent, and see what’s actually yours. How to use it Gross self-employment revenue — everything … Read more
Deductions don’t just lower an abstract “taxable income” number — they lower a real tax bill, in real dollars. This calculator shows the actual before-and-after difference so you can see what a home office, some mileage, or a retirement contribution is genuinely worth to you. How this calculator works Enter your net income before deductions, … Read more
Self-employment tax is the one tax every 1099 worker owes regardless of deductions, credits, or how the rest of your return shakes out. This calculator isolates just that number — Social Security and Medicare — so you can see it clearly, separate from your income tax. What self-employment tax actually is It’s 15.3% of most … Read more
Mileage is usually the single largest deduction for anyone who drives for work — deliveries, rideshare, client visits, supply runs. For 2026, the IRS split the standard mileage rate mid-year, so this calculator asks for your business miles in two halves and does the math correctly for each. Why the rate changes mid-year The IRS … Read more
A $70,000 job offer and a $70,000 freelance contract are not the same $70,000. As a W-2 employee, your employer quietly covers half of your Social Security and Medicare tax. As a 1099 contractor, you cover all of it yourself — on top of losing benefits like paid time off or a 401(k) match. This … Read more
Being your own boss means being your own payroll department. Nobody withholds tax from a 1099 payment the way an employer withholds it from a paycheck — the responsibility for setting money aside, and sending it to the IRS four times a year, falls entirely on you. This calculator turns your net self-employment income into … Read more
