Know what you actually keep.
Free calculators and plain-English guides that turn paychecks, freelance rates, and 1099 taxes into numbers you can plan around. Educational estimates, zero jargon.
- No signup
- Runs in your browser
- Formulas shown on every tool
Quick take-home check
46 billable weeksSixteen tools for the money questions
freelancers and employees ask
Each one runs instantly as you type, explains its assumptions, and links to a guide that goes deeper.
2026 tax calculators
1099 Tax Calculator (2026)
Federal income tax, self-employment tax, and your state rate on 1099 income, using 2026 IRS figures.
Open calculatorSelf-Employment Tax Calculator (2026)
Social Security and Medicare on your net profit, using the 2026 wage base of $184,500.
Open calculatorEstimated Tax Safe Harbor Calculator
The 2026 estimated payments that usually avoid an underpayment penalty, with due dates.
Open calculatorMileage Deduction Calculator (2026)
Your 2026 business mileage deduction at 72.5¢, then 76¢ a mile, and roughly what it saves in tax.
Open calculatorRates & planning
Home Office Deduction Calculator
Simplified ($5 per sq ft) vs regular method: which home office deduction is bigger for you.
Open calculatorW-2 to 1099 Rate Converter
The contract hourly and day rate that replaces a salary once benefits, taxes, and time off are counted.
Open calculatorFreelance Rate Calculator
Turn a desired annual take-home into the hourly rate you need after taxes and expenses.
Open calculator1099 vs W-2 Compare
See how a freelance rate stacks up against a salary once taxes and overhead come out.
Open calculatorQuarterly Tax Estimate
A rough quarterly set-aside from expected annual profit and your effective rate.
Open calculatorInvoice Calculator
Subtotal, discount, tax, and late fee: get a clean amount due in seconds.
Open calculatorHourly ↔ Salary Converter
Convert either direction with your own hours per week and weeks per year.
Open calculatorTax Set-Aside Planner
Profit × your chosen % → monthly, quarterly, and weekly savings targets.
Open calculatorW-2 Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate salary or hourly take-home pay with W-4 adjustments and 2026 withholding tables.
Open calculatorTexas Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate salary or hourly take-home pay with W-4 adjustments and 2026 withholding tables.
Open calculatorCalifornia Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate salary or hourly take-home pay with W-4 adjustments and 2026 withholding tables.
Open calculatorFlorida Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate salary or hourly take-home pay with W-4 adjustments and 2026 withholding tables.
Open calculatorPick your question
What should I charge? How much do I set aside? Is this contract better than my salary?
Drag the sliders
Use your own hours, weeks, and tax cushion. Results update instantly, right in your browser.
Understand the number
Every tool shows its formula, and our guides explain the concepts behind it in plain English.
Plain-English explainers
How Much Tax Do You Pay on 1099 Income?
A 2026 table from $30k to $200k of profit, single and married, with the math explained.
2026 Estimated Tax Due Dates
Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, and Jan 15 2027: what each payment covers and how to pay.
Gig Worker Taxes: How Much to Save
Why mileage matters most, a worked 2026 example, and a simple per-payout savings rule.
Self-Employment Tax Explained
Why freelancers cover Social Security and Medicare differently than W-2 employees.
How Much to Charge as a Freelancer
Build a rate from take-home goals, billable hours, and a tax/expense cushion.
W-2 to 1099: Converting Salary to a Rate
Why a contract rate needs to be ~1.7–2× your W-2 hourly wage, with a conversion table.
Freelance money math, without the sales pitch.
A freelance rate looks generous until self-employment tax, unpaid admin hours, and missing benefits show up. TakeHomeLab turns those surprises into clear, adjustable numbers — so you can price your work and plan your taxes with a little more confidence.
- Free & ad-supportedDisplay ads keep the tools free. Ads never change calculator formulas.
- Assumptions in the openEvery tool explains its method and limitations.
- Educational, not adviceWe’re not a CPA or tax preparer. Verify with a pro and current IRS guidance.