About Set Aside Tax
Set Aside Tax is a small independent project that helps people with side income work out how much to save for taxes, so April does not come with a surprise bill.
Why this site exists
Anyone who earns money outside of a regular paycheck, whether through freelancing, gig work, selling online, or a small business, has to handle their own taxes on that income. Nothing is withheld, and the self-employment tax in particular catches many people off guard. The calculator on the home page gives a quick estimate of the total to set aside, per year, per quarter and per month, and the guides explain the reasoning behind the numbers.
Where the numbers come from
The calculator and guides use the 2026 federal self-employment tax rules: 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit, a Social Security wage base of $184,500, and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 for single and head-of-household filers or $250,000 for joint filers. Facts are checked against primary sources, mainly IRS Topic No. 554, the IRS page on estimated taxes, IRS Publication 505, and the Social Security Administration's annual wage base announcement. The articles carry a "last updated" date and a list of sources, and we review them when the rules change each year.
What the calculator does not do
It is deliberately simple. It applies the bracket you choose as a flat rate to your profit, uses one flat state rate, and does not model credits, other income, or the phase-outs on the qualified business income deduction. It is built to answer one question, roughly how much of each payment to put away, and not to prepare your return. For anything beyond a planning estimate, use tax software or a licensed professional.
Privacy
The calculator runs entirely in your browser. The numbers you enter are not sent to our servers or stored anywhere. See the privacy policy for details about cookies and advertising.
How the site is funded
Set Aside Tax is free to use. The site is supported by advertising and may include affiliate links to products we think are relevant, such as accounting tools. If we earn a commission from a link, it does not change the price you pay, and it does not influence what the calculator or the guides say.
Corrections and feedback
Tax rules change, and mistakes happen. If you spot something that looks wrong or out of date, please tell us through the contact page. We will check it against the source and fix it.
We are not a law firm, accounting firm or tax preparer. Nothing here is tax, legal or financial advice.