1099 Tax Calculator 2026 — Washington Self-Employment Tax

Federal self-employment tax (15.3%) is the same in every state — it's a federal obligation regardless of where you live. What changes by state is your state income tax, which is calculated separately on top of your federal SE tax and federal income tax. Moving from a high-tax state to a no-tax state can save a self-employed person thousands of dollars per year on state income tax alone, while federal SE tax remains constant.

Yes — self-employed workers who expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal taxes for the year must make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid IRS penalties. The 2026 due dates are April 15, June 16, September 15, and January 15, 2027. Many states have similar quarterly requirements. The quarterly payment shown in this calculator divides your total estimated annual tax burden by four as a starting point.

The W-2 comparison shows what your total tax burden would be if you earned the same gross income as a salaried employee instead of a contractor. The key difference: as a W-2 employee, your employer pays half of FICA (7.65%), so you only pay 7.65% yourself. As a 1099 contractor, you pay both halves — 15.3% total. The comparison table isolates exactly how much that employer FICA shift adds to your annual tax bill.