Last updated: March 2, 2026 by Dr. David Park

How Self-Employment Tax Works

Formula

Self-employment tax covers Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%), totaling 15.3% on 92.35% of net SE income.

Unlike employees who split FICA with their employer, self-employed individuals pay both halves.

Common use cases:

  • Freelancer tax planning
  • Quarterly estimated tax payments
  • Independent contractor taxes

Frequently Asked Questions

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Dr. David Park

Applied Mathematician, PhD Mathematics

David holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from MIT. He has published research on numerical methods and computational algorithms used in engineering and scientific calculators.

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