💰 Calculate Your Real Take-Home Pay
Runs entirely in your browser — no income data is sent or stored. Uses official 2026 figures: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 brackets, $16,100/$32,200 standard deduction, 15.3% SE tax on 92.35% of net profit, $184,500 Social Security wage base, and full progressive state brackets for all 41 taxing states + DC.
Why 1099 take-home differs from a W-2 paycheck
A W-2 paycheck already has taxes withheld and the employer quietly pays half of Social Security and Medicare. As a 1099 contractor you pay both halves — the 15.3% self-employment tax — and nothing is withheld, so the "paycheck" you see is pre-tax. This calculator converts your gross freelance income into the number that actually matters: what lands in your pocket after SE tax, federal income tax, and your state's income tax, using official 2026 rates.
Setting your freelance rate from take-home
Work backwards: decide the annual take-home you need, then remember that most freelancers keep roughly 70–77% of net profit depending on state (use the keep-rate above for your exact figure). Add unpaid time — vacations, sick days, admin, gaps between clients — by pricing on realistic working weeks (many freelancers bill 44–48 weeks, not 52). A common rule of thumb: your 1099 hourly rate should be 15–25% higher than the equivalent W-2 hourly wage just to break even on tax and benefits.
FAQ
How much of my 1099 income do I actually keep?
After self-employment tax (15.3%), federal income tax, and state tax, most freelancers keep roughly 70–77% of net profit in 2026. At $75,000 net profit a single filer keeps $57,899 in a no-income-tax state (77%) and about $55,535 in California (74%).
Is this the same as a 1099 paycheck calculator?
Yes — 1099 contractors don't receive paychecks with withholding, so a "1099 paycheck calculator" really means take-home pay after the taxes you must set aside yourself. This tool shows it monthly, weekly, and hourly.
Does this include the QBI deduction?
No. Most freelancers can deduct up to 20% of qualified business income, which lowers federal tax further — so your real take-home is often slightly higher than shown. We exclude it so you never under-save.
Should I use gross income or income after expenses?
Enter gross 1099 income and your deductible business expenses separately — the calculator taxes only net profit, which is what the IRS taxes.
Want the full state-by-state breakdown?
The main 1099 tax calculator shows your complete SE + federal + state breakdown, or jump to the quarterly payment calculator or refund estimator.
Estimates only — not tax advice. QBI deduction, credits, and retirement deductions are not included, so your real bill may be lower. Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, SSA, Tax Foundation 2026, state DORs. Last updated July 2, 2026. Report an issue.