Who should use a 1099 tax estimator?

Freelancers, contractors, and sole proprietors who receive 1099-NEC or self-employment income and need a federal (and optionally California) tax estimate.

How are quarterly payments calculated?

Estimated total tax minus withholding, divided by four. Actual safe-harbor rules may differ — consult IRS Publication 505.

What is the difference between 1099-NEC and W-2?

1099-NEC reports non-employee compensation — you are responsible for self-employment tax and quarterly estimates. W-2 employees have withholding handled by employers.

Should I make quarterly estimated payments?

If you expect to owe $1,000+ after withholding, IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax to avoid underpayment penalties.

United States — federal tax; California state tax optional · Tax year 2025

1099 Tax Estimator

Estimate Schedule C net profit, self-employment tax, federal income tax, and quarterly payments.

1099 / self-employment gross income ($)

Business expenses ($)

Other income ($)

W-2 wages, interest, etc.Federal withholding ($)

State

Net profit (Schedule C)

$65,000.00

Self-employment tax

$9,184.21

Federal income tax

$5,210.45

State income tax

$1,869.63

Total estimated tax

$16,264.29

Quarterly payment (est.)

$4,066.07

Effective rate

25.0%

Tax year 2025 · Single filer · Standard deduction · California state tax modeled when selected.

Related calculators

US self-employment and 1099 tax guide

Who this estimator is for

Freelancers, consultants, and sole proprietors who receive 1099-NEC or self-employment income report profit on Schedule C. This tool estimates self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare), federal income tax, and optional state tax.

Tax law changes yearly. This calculator uses published 2025 brackets and standard deduction amounts — verify with IRS publications or a CPA before filing.

Self-employment tax basics

Net profit from Schedule C is subject to self-employment tax at 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings (up to the Social Security wage base), plus 2.9% Medicare on all net earnings. An additional 0.9% Medicare surtax may apply at higher incomes.

You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion of SE tax when calculating adjusted gross income — the estimator accounts for this interaction.

Quarterly estimated payments are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
Business expenses reduce net profit and therefore SE and income tax.
State rules vary — California FTB is included on state-specific pages.

Important disclaimer

This is not tax advice. Credits, AMT, QBI deduction, spouse income, and other return items are not fully modeled. Consult a licensed CPA or enrolled agent for filing decisions.

Frequently asked questions

?Who should use a 1099 tax estimator?: Freelancers, contractors, and sole proprietors who receive 1099-NEC or self-employment income and need a federal (and optionally California) tax estimate.
?How are quarterly payments calculated?: Estimated total tax minus withholding, divided by four. Actual safe-harbor rules may differ — consult IRS Publication 505.
?What is the difference between 1099-NEC and W-2?: 1099-NEC reports non-employee compensation — you are responsible for self-employment tax and quarterly estimates. W-2 employees have withholding handled by employers.
?Should I make quarterly estimated payments?: If you expect to owe $1,000+ after withholding, IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax to avoid underpayment penalties.