How the Self-Employment Tax Works for Freelancers in 2026

Lucas and Luna break down the self-employment tax, SE tax, for freelancers and gig workers in 2026. They explain the 15.3 percent rate, the deduction for half of SE tax, how to estimate quarterly payments using Schedule SE, and the impact of the net earnings threshold. A concrete example illustrates how a freelance graphic designer earning $80,000 calculates their SE tax and takes the deduction. The episode also covers strategies to reduce SE tax exposure through entity structure, retirement contributions, and business expenses. No fluff—just actionable tax planning for independent earners. #SelfEmploymentTax #FreelancerTaxes #GigEconomyTax #ScheduleSE #SEtax #QuarterlyEstimatedTaxes #TaxDeduction #BusinessExpenses #RetirementContributions #Solo401k #LLC #SCorp #NetEarnings #SelfEmployed #TaxStrategy #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo