Answer four questions and get your personal self-employment set-aside percentage — calculated with 2026 federal brackets and your state's income tax.
Estimates your combined SE tax + federal income tax + state income tax as one percentage of your net income.
Email yourself this set-aside percentage — and be first in line when automated withholding launches.
Estimates only — not tax advice. Uses 2026 federal brackets and state tax tables; your actual liability may differ (credits, itemized deductions, retirement contributions, etc.). Consult a tax professional before making payments.
Transparent math you can verify — no black box.
15.3% (Social Security + Medicare) applied to 92.35% of your net income — the standard IRS SE tax base. The employee-equivalent half is deductible.
2026 brackets (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), standard deduction, and the ½ SE-tax deduction applied progressively by filing status.
Your state's 2026 brackets and standard deduction (Tax Foundation data). No-income-tax states calculate as 0%.
Underpaying estimated taxes means IRS penalties. Overpaying means giving the government an interest-free loan.
The IRS charges penalties when estimated payments fall short of safe-harbor thresholds. Knowing your % up front keeps you clear.
Set-aside money doesn't have to sit idle. HoldQuarter's vision: it earns interest in a safe account while you wait for quarterly deadlines.
Freelancers file Form 1040-ES four times a year. Knowing your set-aside % makes each quarter a 5-minute task instead of a panic.
Phase 1 gives you the number. Phase 2 — automated withholding, filing, and interest — is on the way.
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