How Much to Set Aside for Freelance Taxes in 2026

A practical framework for federal income tax, self-employment tax, and state tax.

Many freelancers use a rough 25% to 30% rule. That can be close for some people and dangerously low for others because self-employment tax, filing status, deductions, and state taxes all change the answer.

A better workflow is to estimate your annual tax rate, apply it to every payment as it arrives, and then review quarterly payments before each IRS deadline.

WithholdingHelper focuses on that cash-flow moment: payment received, calculation shown, money moved.