# ContractMath

> Free W-2 vs 1099 calculator and freelance tax calculator for US tax year 2026. Compares take-home pay after federal, state (all 50 states + DC) and self-employment tax, and finds the break-even 1099 hourly rate that matches a W-2 offer. No signup. Updated October 2026.

Calculator inputs can be passed in the URL, e.g. https://contractmath.com/?salary=120000&rate=75&state=TX (params: salary, rate, state, fs=single|mfj|mfs|hoh, hours, weeks, pto, health, selfhealth, match, expenses, mode=hourly|annual, annual).

## Tools
- [W-2 vs 1099 calculator](https://contractmath.com/): take-home comparison and break-even 1099 rate
- [Freelance tax calculator](https://contractmath.com/freelance-tax-calculator): 2026 federal, state and self-employment tax for 1099 income

## Guides
- [How much more should a 1099 rate be? (2026)](https://contractmath.com/w2-vs-1099-hourly-rate): break-even multiples by salary and state with a worked example
- [2026 self-employment tax rate and wage base](https://contractmath.com/self-employment-tax-2026)
- [2026 quarterly estimated tax due dates](https://contractmath.com/quarterly-estimated-tax-2026)
- [W-2 vs 1099 by state (2026)](https://contractmath.com/state-income-tax-2026)
- [Methodology and sources](https://contractmath.com/methodology)

## Key 2026 numbers (sources)
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings; Social Security part capped at the $184,500 wage base (SSA, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html)
- Additional Medicare tax: 0.9% above $200,000 single/HoH, $250,000 MFJ, $125,000 MFS (IRS)
- Standard deduction: $16,100 single/MFS, $32,200 MFJ, $24,150 HoH (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Single brackets: 10%; 12% from $12,400; 22% from $50,400; 24% from $105,700; 32% from $201,775; 35% from $256,225; 37% from $640,600 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- QBI (Sec. 199A) threshold $201,750 ($403,500 MFJ), phase-in $75,000 ($150,000 MFJ), $400 minimum deduction
- Estimated tax due dates: April 15, 2026; June 15, 2026; September 15, 2026; January 15, 2027 (2026 Form 1040-ES)
- Retirement: 401(k) deferral $24,500; catch-up $8,000 (50+), $11,250 (ages 60-63); SEP / 415(c) max $72,000 (IRS Notice 2025-67)

## Optional
- [About](https://contractmath.com/about)