Self-employment tax 2027: official wage base and planning preview

Updated 23 October 2026

The Social Security Administration has published the official 2027 contribution and benefit base of $192,300. The earlier $190,200 projection has been superseded.

What changes in 2027?

The Social Security part of self-employment tax is 12.4%, subject to the $192,300 Social Security earnings cap for 2027. W-2 Social Security wages already using that cap must be considered. Medicare is 2.9% without that earnings cap; Additional Medicare Tax can apply above the relevant threshold.

Schedule SE generally uses 92.35% of net self-employment profit to determine net earnings. The combined 15.3% rate is not a flat tax on every dollar of gross revenue, and its Social Security component stops at the applicable cap. See the IRS self-employment tax guidance for the rules and exceptions.

Use the correct tax year

The working PiggyMath calculator currently estimates 2026, using the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500. It has not silently switched to 2027. Do not use its output as a final 2027 estimate.

Open the 2026 calculator · 2027 sourced constants and preview

Sources and limits

• SSA: official contribution and benefit base
• IRS: self-employment tax
• PiggyMath methodology and calculation limits

This preview is educational planning information. Federal income tax, state tax, credits and deductions require their own year-specific rules.