See the tax impact before it becomes a tax surprise.

Different lives. Different tax questions.

Fastidious tools help you explore the details that can change the bigger picture—so you can identify potential surprises, test different scenarios, and know when a simplified estimate needs a closer professional review.

Creator, Freelance & Side-Income Tax Estimator

For income that does not arrive on one W-2.

Brand partnerships, affiliate commissions, platform payouts, consulting, digital products, and freelance work may create self-employment tax—even when taxes are already being withheld from your paycheck.

Use this estimator to see how additional business profit may change your expected federal refund or amount due before filing season.

While your platform may call it a “payout”, the IRS may still call it a business.

Tax Year 2026

Side-Hustle Refund Impact Estimator

See how net side-hustle profit may change a W-2 federal refund or amount due.

Side-hustle activity

W-2-only estimated refund

$1,330

Uses W-2 wages and federal withholding only.

Estimated self-employment tax

$2,826

Includes estimated Social Security and Medicare tax.

Estimated total federal tax

$14,585

Income tax plus self-employment tax.

Estimated federal amount due

$5,585

After withholding and entered estimated-tax payments.

Estimated tax impact of the side hustle $6,915

Educational estimate: Uses 2026 ordinary-income brackets, the basic standard deduction, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, and the 92.35% Schedule SE factor. Because Box 3 may not be available, W-2 wages are used as a proxy for wages already subject to Social Security tax. This can overstate self-employment tax when Box 1 is lower than Box 3 because of pre-tax deductions. It excludes credits, itemized deductions, QBI, capital-gain rates, the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, state tax, penalties, and other return details. Actual refunds depend on complete tax information and IRS rules.

W-2 REFUND ESTIMATOR

Your household is more than a filing status.

Wages and withholding are only the starting point. Dependents, children’s ages, childcare expenses, shared-custody arrangements, and eligibility for family-related credits can materially change the final return.

A useful estimate should reflect the household behind the numbers—not merely the number in Box 1.

This simplified estimator does not determine eligibility for the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, or Child and Dependent Care Credit. Family tax situations should be reviewed using complete household and income information.

Structure Optimization Visualizer

Compare baseline Social Security and Medicare tax estimates for a Schedule C business and an S corporation.

Estimated Schedule C self-employment tax

$16,955

Estimated S-corp employee + employer FICA

$7,650

Potential payroll-tax difference

$9,305

Before payroll service, filing, compliance, and other entity costs.

Educational estimate: Uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 and standard Social Security/Medicare rates. It excludes income tax, Additional Medicare Tax, FUTA/SUTA, QBI, retirement contributions, state tax, and S-corp operating costs. An S-corp shareholder-employee must receive reasonable compensation; entity choice should be reviewed with a tax professional.

Interactive 2026 planning tools for W-2 income, creator and freelance earnings, business deductions, and entity decisions.

Built with modern technology. Grounded in tax rules. Designed to make the next question clearer.

Tax Year 2026

W-2 Federal Refund Estimator

Compare estimated federal income tax with withholding, payments, and credits entered below.

Payments

Optional credits

Estimated adjusted gross income

$75,000

2026 standard deduction

$16,100

Estimated taxable income: $58,900

Estimated federal tax after entered nonrefundable credits

$7,670

Payments + entered refundable credits

$9,000

Estimated federal refund

$1,330

A planning estimate—not a guaranteed refund or completed tax return.

Educational estimate: Designed for a simplified 2026 W-2 return using ordinary-income tax rates and the basic standard deduction. It does not calculate self-employment tax, capital-gain or qualified-dividend rates, itemized deductions, QBI, AMT, NIIT, Additional Medicare Tax, age/blindness additions, state tax, penalties, or credit eligibility. Enter refundable credits only if separately estimated. Actual refunds depend on complete return information and IRS rules.

Business Deduction Impact Estimator

Revenue gets attention. Documentation protects the deduction.

Equipment, editing software, advertising, professional services, platform fees, workspace expenses, contractors, and other costs may affect taxable business profit when they meet tax requirements and are properly documented.

Use this tool to explore the potential federal tax effect of eligible business expenses.

A deduction can reduce taxable income. It does not make the purchase free—and it is not a dollar-for-dollar refund.

Business Deduction Impact Estimator

Explore how additional eligible Schedule C deductions could change estimated federal income and self-employment taxes.

Estimated profit before added deductions

$75,000

Estimated profit after added deductions

$65,000

Estimated income-tax effect

$2,200

Estimated SE-tax effect

$1,413

Potential federal tax effect

$3,613
Estimated only; a deduction reduces taxable income and is not a dollar-for-dollar credit.

Educational estimate: Only ordinary and necessary business expenses that meet tax requirements may be deductible. This simplified model assumes Schedule C treatment, caps the added deduction at current positive profit, and uses standard 2026 Social Security/Medicare rates. It excludes QBI, itemized deductions, credits, Additional Medicare Tax, state tax, limitations, basis/at-risk rules, and timing differences.

An S corporation is a strategy—not a shortcut.

As business profit grows, entity structure may change how Social Security and Medicare taxes are calculated. Compare a baseline Schedule C scenario with an S corporation scenario, then consider the potential difference alongside reasonable compensation, payroll, tax filings, state requirements, and ongoing compliance.

The largest estimated tax difference is not automatically the best business decision.

What Sets Us Apart

Clarity before you file.

Get an early estimate so you can start asking better questions and preparing for what’s ahead.

The details behind the estimate.

A calculator starts with your inputs. We look deeper at your documents, eligibility, and circumstances when preparing your return.

A clear next step.

From guided tax preparation to dedicated planning, you have a path from exploring the numbers to knowing what to do next.