1099 Tax Calculator: Estimate Your 2026 Taxes

Your 1099 income doesn’t have tax withheld, and it includes a 15.3% self-employment tax that W-2 workers pay only half of. 

Use the 1099 tax calculator below to see what you’ll owe for 2026, what to set aside each quarter, and how much of that bill your business miles wipe out.

How to use the 1099 tax calculator

1.  Pick your filing status. It sets your standard deduction and your tax brackets.
2.  Enter your 1099 income before expenses. Add up every client, contract and platform you expect to earn from this year.
3.  Enter your business miles across the two halves of 2026. The IRS raised the business rate on July 1, so the calculator applies 72.5 cents to your first-half miles and 76 cents to the rest.
4.  Open the optional sections if you have parking and tolls, other business expenses, or a W-2 job alongside your self-employment.
5.  Read the quarterly number. That’s roughly what to put aside for each estimated tax payment.

Free tool · Tax year 2026

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1099 Tax Calculator

About you

Filing status Single Married filing jointly Head of household Married filing separately

1099 income $ Before expenses, across every client and platform.

Your business miles

Jan 1 – Jun 30 miles 72.5¢ per mile

Jul 1 – Dec 31 miles 76¢ per mile

i The IRS raised the business mileage rate on July 1, 2026, so the year has two rates.

Add parking, tolls and other business expenses

Parking and tolls $

Other business expenses $ Leave out gas and repairs, the standard mileage rate already covers them.

I also have W-2 income

W-2 wages $

Federal tax already withheld $

Apply the 20% qualified business income deductionMost sole proprietors qualify. Untick if you know you don't.

Estimated 2026 federal tax $0  

Set aside each quarter $0

What your miles are worth $0

cut from your tax bill by logging 0 miles, worth a $0 deduction.

 

See the full breakdown

Self-employment tax$0

Federal income tax$0

Left to pay$0

 

Deductions applied$0

Mileage deduction$0

Half of self-employment tax$0

Qualified business income$0

Standard deduction$0

Keep in mind that this 1099 tax calculator gives you a general estimate and is not tax advice. It covers federal tax only, so state and local income tax comes on top, and it doesn't account for tax credits, retirement contributions, self-employed health insurance, or a spouse's self-employment income. To claim your mileage deduction you'll need a compliant mileage log for your trips.

What the calculator covers

It’s an estimate, so it’s worth knowing where the lines are.

Why it's worth to track your business mileage

Mileage is the largest deduction most 1099 filers have, and it works twice. Every mile you claim lowers your net profit, so it cuts your income tax and your self-employment tax together. 

At 76 cents a mile, 10,000 miles is a $7,600 deduction.

Remember: Only business miles count! 

Driving from home to a regular place of work is commuting, and you can’t deduct it, so it’s worth being clear on the difference between business miles and commuting miles before you enter a number. 

Our full guide to the self-employed mileage deduction walks through which trips qualify, and delivery and rideshare drivers can start with the tax deductions for delivery drivers.

When do you have to pay 1099 taxes?

Four times a year, not once. Estimated payments fall due on April 15, June 15 and September 15, then January 15 of the following year. If a due date lands on a weekend or holiday, you get the next business day.

You need to make these payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file. 

How much should I set aside for 1099 taxes?

The usual advice is 25% to 30% of your 1099 income. It’s a safe starting point if you’ve just gone self-employed and have nothing else to go on.

It’s also blunt, because it ignores your deductions. A driver earning $38,000 who logs 22,000 business miles pays closer to 9%. The calculator uses your actual miles and expenses instead.

Can I deduct mileage as a 1099 contractor?

Yes. You claim it on Schedule C, using either the standard mileage rate or your actual vehicle costs. The standard rate is simpler and usually better for higher-mileage drivers, but compare the standard mileage rate and the actual expenses method in your first year, because that choice partly locks you in.

Both methods need records. The IRS wants the date, the mileage and the business purpose of every trip, so check what the IRS requires in a mileage log before tax season, not during it.

Never miss a mile with automatic mileage tracking 

The Driversnote app logs every business trip automatically and turns it into an IRS-compliant report, so the figure you put in this calculator is one you can prove. Once you’ve got that sorted, work through the rest of your self-employed tax deductions.