Tax Set-Aside Calculator
How much of every payment to put aside for federal and state tax, self-employed tradesperson, tax year 2026.
Sound familiar?
- “You get paid the full invoice, spend it, then a tax bill lands in April and there's nothing set aside.”
- “You have no idea what to reserve, because it's federal income tax plus self-employment tax plus your state.”
- “You took a job in another state and don't know what that does to what you owe.”
What this tool does
Estimates your total set-aside, federal income tax, self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare), and your state's income tax, from your net profit, so you can move that share into a separate account as you get paid.
If you take an action based on what you read here, that action is yours. We are a guide, not an advisor, and we give this away for free.
This tool helps you get started on your job. It's a starting point, you must review and adapt the output to your specific site conditions. SiteKiln does not provide health and safety, legal, tax or financial consultancy. If your job involves complex or high-risk work, get professional advice.
What the law actually says
- •Self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026, plus 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net profit. Half of it is deductible against income tax.
- •Federal income tax sits on top at your marginal bracket, after the standard deduction and the 20% QBI deduction most trades qualify for.
- •State income tax ranges from nothing (Texas, Florida, Washington and six others) to graduated rates above 10% (California, Hawaii, New York).