Free tool
How much should I set aside for taxes?
Enter what your business expects to earn after expenses. We estimate federal income tax, self-employment tax and New Jersey tax, and what that means per month and per quarter.
How it works
What the estimate includes
It adds three things: self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare, about 15.3% on the first part of your profit), federal income tax using the 2026 brackets and the standard deduction, and New Jersey income tax using New Jersey's most recent published rates.
It leaves out things that would usually lower your bill: the 20% qualified business income deduction, retirement contributions, health insurance deductions, credits and itemized deductions. So treat the result as a cautious figure to plan with, not a prediction. It also leaves out the extra Medicare tax at higher incomes and taxes in other states.
Nothing you enter is sent or saved. The math runs in your browser. This is general information, not tax advice, so talk to a tax professional about your own situation.
FAQ
About this calculator
Is this my exact tax bill?
No. It is a planning estimate. It does not include credits, retirement contributions, the self-employed health insurance deduction, the qualified business income deduction or itemized deductions, and it does not cover other states. Your actual bill can be higher or lower.
Where do the rates come from?
The federal brackets, the standard deduction and the Social Security wage base are the published 2026 figures. New Jersey rates are from the most recent table we could confirm, tax year 2025, and we assume the amounts did not change.
Why is self-employment tax so high?
When you work for yourself you pay both the employee and employer halves of Social Security and Medicare, about 15.3% on most of your profit, up to the Social Security wage base.
How often should I pay?
Most self-employed people pay estimated tax four times a year. See the dates in our tax deadline calendar. Many people move the set-aside amount to a separate savings account each time they get paid.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is a general estimate, not tax advice. A tax professional can tell you what applies to you.
See when estimated payments are due in the tax deadline calendar, or talk to us about your books.