Freelance Rate & Tax Calculator

Enter your income goal, expenses, and realistic billable hours to find the rate that actually gets you there.

Income goal

Desired annual take-home pay

Annual business expenses

Software, equipment, insurance, coworking, contractor help, etc.

Location & tax rate

Rough starting point

Effective tax rate 25%

Combined self-employment / social security + income tax, as a share of profit.

Working hours

Billable hours per week 25

Not 40 — leave room for admin, sales, and marketing.

Working weeks per year 46

52 minus vacation, sick days, and holidays.

Not tax advice. These are simplified, illustrative estimates to help you set a starting rate — not a substitute for a licensed accountant who knows your actual deductions, filing status, and local tax rules.

You need to charge

$96/ hour

to take home $75,000 after taxes and expenses

Day rate

$768

Weekly

$2,400

Monthly avg.

$9,200

Annual revenue

$110,400

Billable hrs / yr

1,150

Est. total tax

$26,133

Where every revenue dollar goes

Take-home 68%

Expenses 5%

Taxes 27%

Quick project quote

Estimated hours

≈ $1,920

Expenses first, taxes second

Revenue needed is calculated as (take-home ÷ (1 − tax rate)) + expenses, so business costs never quietly erode your target income.

Realistic hours, not 40

Most independents bill 20–30 hours a week once admin, proposals, and unpaid gaps are accounted for — the calculator assumes that by default.

Nothing leaves your browser

Every number here is computed locally. Your income figures are never sent anywhere or stored.