South Carolina self-employment tax 2026
With $68,000 of self-employment profit in South Carolina, a single filer owes about $9,608 in self-employment tax for 2026 and should set aside about $3,939 each quarter.
Self-employment tax · 2026
Quarterly payments $9,608for the year
15.3% on 92.35% of your profit
Where your $68,000 of profit goes
You keep$52,24576.8%
Social Security$7,78711.5%
Medicare$1,8212.7%
Federal income tax$4,2736.3%
South Carolina income tax$1,8742.8%
Income tax
$6,147
Total tax
$15,756
Each quarter
$3,939
Quarterly estimated payments for 2026
Apr 15, 2026Covers Jan 1 to Mar 31
$3,939Jun 15, 2026Covers Apr 1 to May 31
$3,939Sep 15, 2026Covers Jun 1 to Aug 31
$3,939Jan 15, 2027Covers Sep 1 to Dec 31
$3,939Equal amounts to set aside, not a bill.
Self-employment tax in South Carolina
- Self-employment tax
- 15.3%
- Wage base
- $184,500
- Extra Medicare
- 0.9%
- Owed from
- $400
- Business income deduction
- 20%
- South Carolina income tax
- 1.99% to 5.21%
How we work it out
- 1Net earningsYour profit times 92.35%.
- 2Social Security12.4% on net earnings up to $184,500, less W-2 wages.
- 3Medicare2.9% on all net earnings, plus 0.9% over $200,000.
- 4Income taxAfter half your self-employment tax and the 20% business income deduction.
- 5Quarterly estimateSelf-employment tax plus income tax on the profit, split in four.
Self-employment tax questions
How much self-employment tax do I owe on $68,000 of profit?
About $9,608 for 2026, made of $7,787 for Social Security and $1,821 for Medicare. Half of it, $4,804, comes off your income before income tax.
What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?
15.3% on 92.35% of your net profit: 12.4% for Social Security on up to $184,500 and 2.9% for Medicare on all of it. Above $200,000 for single filers, another 0.9% Medicare applies.
When are 2026 estimated tax payments due?
Apr 15, 2026, Jun 15, 2026, Sep 15, 2026, and Jan 15, 2027. Each payment covers the months before it.
I also have a W-2 job. Does that change my self-employment tax?
Yes. Social Security stops at $184,500 of combined earnings, and your job's wages count first. Add your W-2 wages in the calculator to see the difference.
Does South Carolina tax self-employment income?
Yes. South Carolina taxes your profit as income at 1.99% to 5.21%.
Sources
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32: 2026 brackets and standard deduction
- Social Security Administration: 2026 contribution and benefit base
- IRS Notice 2025-67: 2026 retirement plan limits
- South Carolina Department of Revenue
- SCDOR, Information about H. 4216: 1.99% under $30,000, 5.21% minus $966 at $30,000 and above, federal AGI is the starting point, new SC Income Adjusted Deduction, tax year 2026 returns due April 15, 2027
- H. 4216 bill text (S.C. Code 12-6-510 rate table; 12-6-1140(15) SCIAD amounts and phase-out fractions)
- SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office fiscal impact statement for H. 4216 as signed (SCIAD table: $15,000 / $22,500 / $30,000, phase-out ranges)
- EY Tax News, South Carolina law lowers rate retroactive to January 1, 2026
- Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (cross-check)
- Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (state rate)
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