GigTakeHome

A focused SE tax estimate for gig drivers

Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Estimate the Social Security and Medicare tax layer from modeled gig-business profit. The result shows the assumptions and the deductible half without pretending to be a complete tax return.

CalculatorReviewed by Jostar · No signup
30 seconds · no signup · 2026 rates

Estimate with your numbers

Step 1/3: Earnings and work schedule

Start with the main numbers
Combine all self-employment receipts, even when no information return was issued.
Use fewer than 52 for time off or seasonal work.

Start with net gig-business profit

Enter gross receipts, documented business miles, and other supported business expenses. The model uses the resulting Schedule C profit as the starting point for self-employment tax rather than applying a flat percentage to deposits.

Tips, bonuses, and platform payments are business receipts. An information form helps reconciliation but does not define the amount you must report.

W-2 wages can change the Social Security layer

Your W-2 Social Security wages can use part of the annual wage base before the self-employment Social Security portion is calculated. Entering that context is optional, but omitting it can overstate the modeled Social Security layer for mixed-income households.

The calculator does not collect withholding, credits, dependents, or every household fact. It is a planning estimate, not a filing or refund calculator.

Mileage is a deduction, not cash paid

Split 2026 business miles by the date driven: 72.5¢ per mile through June 30 and 76¢ per mile from July 1. Use the 2026 mileage-rate calculator and keep a dated log.

After reviewing the SE tax layer, use the 1099 tax deductions calculator for a broader federal, state, and reserve estimate.

Frequently asked questions

What does self-employment tax cover?

It generally represents the Social Security and Medicare tax calculation on net self-employment earnings, subject to the wage base, thresholds, and other limits.

Does this calculate all of my income tax?

No. It focuses on the self-employment-tax layer and shows related modeled fields. Federal income tax, credits, withholding, local tax, and state return rules need more facts.

Why do W-2 wages matter?

W-2 Social Security wages can use part of the annual Social Security wage base before self-employment earnings are considered. Medicare interactions can also matter at higher income levels.

Do I owe self-employment tax on gross app pay?

The model starts from net business profit after the entered expenses and mileage deduction. A form threshold or bank deposit does not determine the tax base.

Is the result my exact IRS liability?

No. It is an educational planning estimate using disclosed assumptions and does not replace a completed return or professional advice.

Official sources

See methodology for formulas, source status, assumptions, and known limits.

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