Your filing profile
Filing status and household — shapes brackets, standard deduction, and credits.
May differ from CTC count; usually the same.
Law, accounting, consulting, health, financial services, etc. (affects QBI phase-out).
Income
Annual amounts. Gross self-employment income is your Schedule C line 1.
Currently taxed at ordinary rates in this estimator (conservative).
Vehicle deduction
2025 standard mileage rate: $0.70/mile. Commuting miles never qualify.
Home office (IRC §280A)
Exclusive and regular use of a defined space for your business.
Schedule C deductions
Annual amounts. Every line maps to a Schedule C line and an IRC section.
Above-the-line adjustments
Reduce AGI before brackets apply. Retirement contributions are the single biggest tax lever for self-employed workers.
Capped automatically at 25% of net SE earnings (max $70,000 in 2025).
Employee max $23,500 + employer share.
Max $16,500 (2025).
Max $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+).
Capped at net SE income. Reduces AGI but not SE tax.
HDHP required. $4,300 self / $8,550 family (2025).
Capped at $2,500.
Max $300 ($600 MFJ both educators).
Standard for Single: $15,000.
Used for the safe-harbor quarterly calculation.
Above $150k triggers the 110% prior-year rule.
Your results
A complete 2025 federal snapshot — share it with your CPA.
Deductions found
$0
Tax savings vs no deductions
$2,816
Total federal tax
$18,187
Effective 21.4%, marginal 22.0%
Balance due
$18,187
From gross income to taxable income
Each step shows the cumulative effect on the line that flows into your federal tax.
Full tax breakdown
2025 federal calculation. Mirrors the order of a professional tax summary.
| Income | |
| Gross self-employment income | $85,000 |
| Schedule C expenses | ($0) |
| Home office deduction | ($0) |
| Net business income | $85,000 |
| Other income (wages, interest, dividends, etc.) | $0 |
| Total gross income | $85,000 |
| Self-Employment Tax | |
| SE tax base (× 92.35%) | $78,498 |
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | $12,010 |
| SE tax deduction (50%) | ($6,005) |
| Adjustments to Income | |
| Total above-the-line adjustments | ($6,005) |
| Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) | $78,995 |
| Deductions | |
| Standard deduction | ($15,000) |
| QBI deduction (§199A) | ($12,799) |
| Taxable income | $51,196 |
| Tax | |
| Federal income tax | $6,177 |
| Self-employment tax | $12,010 |
| Additional Medicare tax (0.9%) | $0 |
| Net investment income tax (3.8%) | $0 |
| Total tax before credits | $18,187 |
| Credits | |
| Child Tax Credit (nonrefundable) | ($0) |
| Additional Child Tax Credit (refundable) | ($0) |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | ($0) |
| Final | |
| Net federal tax | $18,187 |
| Withholding + estimated payments | ($0) |
| Balance due | $18,187 |
Effective rate: 21.4% · Marginal rate: 22.0%
Quarterly estimated payments
Based on IRS safe harbors. Pay the lower of the two methods to avoid underpayment penalty (§6654).
Method A — 90% current year
$16,369
Method B — 100% prior year
$0
Per quarter (recommended)
$4,092
| Quarter | Period | Due date | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | April 15, 2025 | $4,092 | Pay via IRS → |
| Q2 | Apr 1 – May 31 | June 16, 2025 | $4,092 | Pay via IRS → |
| Q3 | Jun 1 – Aug 31 | September 15, 2025 | $4,092 | Pay via IRS → |
| Q4 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 | January 15, 2026 | $4,092 | Pay via IRS → |
Audit risk assessment
Heuristic score based on IRS attention triggers — not a guarantee of audit selection.
Deductions you haven't claimed
Common items for self-employed workers at your income level. Adding these could meaningfully cut your tax.
Vehicle mileage (standard rate)
Typical: $4,000 · est. savings: $1,445
Home office deduction
Typical: $1,500 · est. savings: $542
Software & SaaS subscriptions
Typical: $1,200 · est. savings: $434
Phone (business portion)
Typical: $600 · est. savings: $217
Internet (business portion)
Typical: $600 · est. savings: $217
Accounting & bookkeeping fees
Typical: $800 · est. savings: $289
Personalized recommendations
A SEP-IRA contribution up to $19,749 at your marginal rate of 22.0% could save roughly $4,345 in federal tax. This is usually the single biggest legal lever.
At your gross income, an S-Corporation election may reduce SE tax materially. Run the numbers with a CPA before electing — payroll, state filings, and reasonable compensation rules apply.