Tax set-aside calculator
Tax usually isn't withheld from creator payouts, so it's on you to put some aside. This is the method I use: each quarter, take what I earned, multiply by a rate, and move that money somewhere I won't spend it. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Net income this quarter
$0
Set aside this quarter
$0
Yours to keep this quarter
$0
I\'m still not an accountant: treat this as the floor of what to save, and ask one for your real number.
When the IRS wants it
Self-employed people generally pay estimated tax four times a year. For 2026 income, Form 1040-ES lists April 15, 2026; June 15, 2026; September 15, 2026; and January 15, 2027.
Where 25% comes from
Two federal taxes hit creator income. Self-employment tax is 15.3% (Social Security and Medicare) on 92.35% of your net profit, and you deduct half of it. Income tax uses the 2026 brackets after the $16,100 standard deduction for a single filer. Self-employment tax is explained in IRS Publication 334; the 2026 brackets and deduction are in Form 1040-ES.
Combined, as a share of net profit (my calculation from those IRS figures, single filer, no credits or other income, no state tax):
| Net profit for the year | Federal tax |
|---|---|
| $25,000 | 17.0% |
| $50,000 | 20.9% |
| $75,000 | 22.8% |
| $100,000 | 25.7% |
| $150,000 | 28.9% |
So 25% covers most earners up to around $90,000 net a year. Saving a little too much just comes back as a refund. Above about $100,000, 30% is safer, and add your state's rate on top.
Frequently asked
- Why 25%?
- Self-employment tax plus federal income tax comes to roughly 17% to 26% of net profit for a single filer earning $25,000 to $100,000 a year under 2026 rules. 25% covers most of that range, and saving a little too much comes back as a refund.
- Does this include state tax?
- Only if you add it. State income tax ranges from none to over 13%, so put your state's rate in the state field. I'm not an accountant, so check yours.
- Is anything I type sent or saved?
- No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser and stores nothing. Refreshing the page clears it.
More on the money side in my taxes for self-producing creators post.
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