About SelfPayTools
Financial calculators built for people who pay both halves of FICA and file a Schedule C.
What this is
SelfPayTools is a set of free calculators and guides for freelancers, independent contractors, solopreneurs, and anyone who gets 1099s instead of W-2s. The tools cover the financial decisions that come up repeatedly when you work for yourself: what to charge, what to set aside for taxes, which deductions you qualify for, how much you can put into retirement accounts, and whether your business structure is costing you money.
Every calculation runs in your browser. No accounts. No data sent anywhere. The numbers you enter stay on your screen.
Why it exists
Most financial tools are built for employees. The W-2 world has withholding that handles quarterly taxes automatically, employer matching that handles retirement contributions, and HR departments that explain benefits. Self-employed workers don't have any of that. You figure out estimated payments yourself, you pick your own retirement vehicle, and you either find the deductions you're entitled to or you leave them on the table.
SelfPayTools was built to close that gap. The calculators are specific, the math is shown, and the guides explain the rules without burying you in caveats.
How the numbers work
The calculators use current IRS figures: 2026 tax brackets, contribution limits published in IRS Notice 2025-81, the 2026 standard mileage rate, and the Schedule SE deduction formula. The underlying formulas match what you'd use to fill out your return, not simplified approximations.
Numbers are updated when the IRS publishes new figures. If a tool is showing a prior-year rate, that's a bug and it will get fixed.
Not tax advice
The calculators and guides on this site are educational tools. They're not a substitute for a licensed CPA or tax attorney. Your situation may have details that change the answer. Treat the output as a starting point for understanding your numbers, not a filing instruction.
The tools
The articles
The Learn section covers the rules behind the calculators: quarterly estimated tax mechanics, the home office exclusive-use rule, S-Corp reasonable compensation requirements, Solo 401k contribution formulas, and more. The goal is to explain how the tax code actually works, not just what number to enter.