Self-Employment Tax: SE Tax Calculation and Deductions
By IRS Self-Employment Office | 6 min read
Calculate self-employment tax accurately with IRS guidance. SE tax rates, deductions, and quarterly payment requirements.
Self-employed individuals pay SE tax on net earnings over $400. SE tax rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare). You can deduct half of SE tax as business expense. Additional Medicare tax of 0.9% applies to high earners. Use Schedule SE to calculate SE tax. Make quarterly estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in total taxes.\n\n**Related Resources**\n- [Financial Planning Tools](/tools)\n- [Budget Calculator](/budget-planner)\n- [Credit Guide](/category/Debt%20%26%20Credit)\n- [Money Saving Tips](/category/Save%20Money)