Taxes

Tax on your 1099-NEC Box 1 — what freelancers actually owe.

Enter the amount in Box 1 of your 1099-NEC and your related business expenses. You get SE tax, federal income tax, and a quarterly set-aside number.

2026 IRS numbers
Stays on your device
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Tax and payroll data last updated: July 2026. Sources & methodology

Your numbers

$

Nonemployee compensation — what the payer reported to the IRS.

$
Tax on 1099-NEC income (2026)
$12,152

Set aside ~$3,038 per quarter.

Net NEC income
$60,500
Self-employment tax
$8,548
Federal income tax
$3,604
Quarterly payment
$3,038

Modeled for freelance / contract NEC income only. Other 1099 types (INT, DIV, MISC) use different rules. Planning estimate — not a filing tool.

How this is calculated

Form 1099-NEC reports nonemployee compensation — what clients paid you without withholding. The IRS treats net profit as self-employment income: 15.3% SE tax on 92.35% of earnings, plus federal income tax through the progressive brackets.

This is the form most freelancers receive instead of a W-2. Other 1099 series forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, etc.) are not modeled here.

Formula
Box 1 − expenses = net NEC; net × 92.35% × 15.3% = SE tax

Related calculators

Common questions

For freelance pay, yes in practice — NEC replaced most nonemployee comp that used to land in MISC Box 7. Your payer should send NEC for contract work.
Payers don't withhold on contractors — you pay through estimated taxes. That's why the quarterly number on your result matters.
Report all business income once. If a platform issued both, avoid double-counting — use your books, not duplicate forms.
Same math, NEC-focused labels and SEO. Use whichever page matches how you search — Box 1 NEC vs general 1099 income.