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Self-Employment Tax
Estimate tax and national insurance for the self-employed.
100% FreeRuns instantlyNo watermark
- 1Enter detailsAdd the numbers for your scenario.
- 2CalculateVootkit updates the result instantly.
- 3ReviewCheck totals, notes and breakdowns.
Private by designProcessed on your device where possible.
Works on any deviceDesktop, tablet and mobile browsers.
No installationOpen the page and start working.
Always free coreUse the free plan for everyday tasks.
How to use Self-Employment Tax
Vootkit updates the result instantly.
02Check totals, notes and breakdowns.
03Copy the answer into your workflow.
04Your files stay private
Your work is processed locally in your browser where possible and is never added to a Vootkit upload library.
Learn more about privacyThe bill that catches new freelancers is not income tax — it is the self-employment tax on top of it. Employees never see it because their employer pays half; when you work for yourself, you pay both halves.
What Self-Employment Tax does
Calculates self-employment tax at 15.3% — which is 12.4% social security plus 2.9% Medicare, both halves — and applies the standard 92.35% adjustment to net profit before the rate.
That 92.35% exists because you are allowed to exclude the employer-equivalent portion from the base. It is not a rounding; it is written into the calculation.
Rates and method
| SE tax rate | 15.3% — default |
|---|---|
| Made up of | 12.4% social security + 2.9% Medicare |
| Applied to | 92.35% of net profit, not 100% |
| Why 92.35% | Excludes the employer-equivalent half from the base |
| Net profit | Revenue minus allowable expenses |
| Default revenue / expenses | 80,000 / 15,000 |
| Income tax | Separate — enter your rate, default 22% |
| Knows your country’s rules? | <strong>No</strong> |
Detailed steps
- Enter revenue and allowable expenses — the tax is on profit, not turnover.
- Check the SE rate against current rules.
- Add your income tax rate to see the combined burden.
Worth knowing
Set aside a percentage of every payment as it arrives, not at year end. Between self-employment tax and income tax, 25–30% of profit is a common holding figure — and the freelancers who get into trouble are almost never the ones who earned too little, but the ones who spent money that was never theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why 92.35% and not the full profit?
Because you may exclude the employer-equivalent portion of the tax from the base it is calculated on — employees are not taxed on their employer’s half either. The 7.65% reduction is what makes the treatment comparable.
Why is the rate 15.3% when employees pay 7.65%?
Employees pay half and their employer pays the other half. Self-employed people are both, so they pay both halves. This is the single biggest surprise in a first year of freelancing.
Is this the same as income tax?
No, and it is in addition to it. Self-employment tax funds social security and Medicare; income tax is separate and applies to the same profit. The tool shows both so the combined figure is visible.
Does this apply outside the US?
The 15.3% structure is US-specific. Most countries have an equivalent self-employed social contribution with different rates and thresholds. Change the rate to your own, and check with a local accountant — this knows no jurisdiction.
Is Self-Employment Tax free?
Yes. The Vootkit free plan includes 5 tool runs a day. Upgrade to Vootkit Pro for unlimited daily use, an ad-free workspace and saved workflows.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Self-Employment Tax runs entirely in your browser — your file is processed on your own device and never sent to a server. There is nothing for us to store or delete.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Self-Employment Tax works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. Open the page and start.
How often can I use it? Is there a daily limit?
On the free plan you get 5 tool runs a day. When you reach the limit you'll see a prompt to upgrade, and it resets the next day. Vootkit Pro removes the cap entirely for unlimited daily use.
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This tool processes everything locally in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.