Self-Employed Tax Calculator Ireland

Self-Employed Tax Calculator Ireland 2026: Enter business receipts and allowable expenses to estimate profit subject to Income Tax, USC and Class S PRSI. See the estimated annual liability, after-tax income and monthly cash reserve. Advanced mode models the potential Income Tax relief on pension contributions.

For example, €80,000 receipts less €15,000 allowable expenses gives €65,000 starting business profit, not €80,000. The tool is a simplified estimate rather than a Form 11 return. For filing and preliminary-tax rules, see Self-Employed Tax Ireland 2026.

What this self-employed tax calculator estimates

This calculator is designed for a sole trader or other self-employed individual who wants a practical 2026 estimate of the personal taxes arising from business profit.

The starting point is:

gross business receipts minus allowable business expenses = simplified business profit

The calculator then estimates:

• Income Tax;
• Universal Social Charge (USC);
• Class S PRSI;
• total personal tax;
• net income after those taxes; and
• a monthly tax-reserve estimate.

Advanced mode also models a personal pension contribution within Revenue’s age-related Income Tax relief limits.

For a broader explanation of the filing and cash-flow issues, read the self-employed tax guide for Ireland. To compare the same income with PAYE employment assumptions, use the Take-Home Pay Calculator.

Turnover is not the same as taxable profit

A common mistake is to apply an Income Tax percentage directly to business turnover.

If a sole trader receives €80,000 from customers but has €15,000 of allowable business expenses, the simplified starting profit is €65,000.

The actual taxable figure on a Form 11 can differ because tax rules may also involve:

• capital allowances;
• losses;
• balancing charges;
• other income;
• pension relief;
• credits;
• prior tax payments; and
• other adjustments.

The calculator is therefore a planning model rather than a full tax-return engine.

Income Tax assumptions for 2026

For the standard single-person scenario, the calculator uses the 2026 standard-rate Income Tax band of €44,000 at 20%, with the balance generally taxed at 40%.

It includes:

• the Single Person Tax Credit; and
• the Earned Income Credit, up to the current maximum where the qualifying-income test permits.

The Earned Income Credit is particularly important because self-employed income does not use the Employee PAYE Tax Credit in the same way as normal PAYE employment.

This means comparing gross income between an employee and a sole trader without comparing the full credit and PRSI position can be misleading.

USC assumptions for 2026

USC is calculated separately from Income Tax.

The standard 2026 bands used are:

• 0.5% on the first €12,012;
• 2% on the next €16,688;
• 3% on the next €41,344; and
• 8% on the balance.

Where self-employed income exceeds €100,000, the calculator also applies the additional 3% USC surcharge to the relevant excess.

Because USC is progressive, the highest rate applying to part of the income is not the same as the effective USC rate on all income.

Class S PRSI

Many self-employed people are liable to Class S PRSI.

For self-assessed income in 2026, the calculator uses the published blended 2026 Class S rate of 4.2375%, subject to the modelled minimum annual contribution.

The Class S calculation is independent of the Income Tax calculation.

That is one reason a headline statement such as “I pay 40% tax” does not describe the actual combined effective tax rate on the full business profit.

Why the tax-reserve result is useful

Self-employed people do not usually have the final annual Income Tax liability withheld from each customer payment in the way PAYE employees have tax deducted from payroll.

The calculator therefore shows a monthly reserve:

estimated annual Income Tax + USC + PRSI ÷ 12

This is not a legal requirement to save exactly that amount each month. It is a planning aid.

If expected profit rises during the year, rerun the calculator and increase the reserve. If profit falls, update the estimate rather than waiting until the filing deadline.

A separate tax account can make it easier to avoid mixing tax money with cash available for business spending.

Preliminary tax is a different calculation

The monthly reserve result is not a preliminary-tax calculation.

Preliminary tax depends on the self-assessment rules, prior-year liability, current-year estimates and payment timing.

The actual amount due at the Pay and File deadline can also include:

• a balance for the previous year;
• preliminary tax for the current year; and
• other liabilities.

That is why a person can have correctly estimated the final annual tax rate but still be surprised by the cash amount due at filing time.

Pension contributions in Advanced mode

Qualifying personal pension contributions can reduce Income Tax.

Revenue limits the amount eligible for relief using age-related percentages and an annual earnings ceiling of €115,000.

The calculator uses the standard age-related percentages:

• under 30: 15%;
• 30 to 39: 20%;
• 40 to 49: 25%;
• 50 to 54: 30%;
• 55 to 59: 35%;
• 60 or over: 40%.

The eligible earnings used for this limit are capped at €115,000.

Advanced mode limits the pension contribution receiving Income Tax relief to the smaller of the amount entered and the age-related maximum.

The pension contribution does not reduce USC or PRSI in this model.

For the detailed rules and claiming process, see the pension tax relief guide.

Worked examples

€50,000 receipts and €10,000 expenses

Business receipts: €50,000.

Allowable expenses entered: €10,000.

Simplified business profit:

€50,000 − €10,000 = €40,000

The calculator then applies the 2026 Income Tax, USC and Class S PRSI assumptions to that profit.

This illustrates why turnover should not be confused with taxable profit.

€80,000 receipts and €15,000 expenses

Business receipts: €80,000.

Expenses: €15,000.

Simplified profit:

€65,000

At this level, part of the taxable income can fall into the 40% Income Tax band before credits are applied. USC and PRSI are calculated separately.

The calculator shows the effective tax rate on the full profit so that the user does not mistake the marginal 40% band for the tax rate on every euro.

Pension contribution example

Assume a 35-year-old self-employed person has €65,000 of relevant earnings.

The age-related limit for age 30 to 39 is 20%.

A simplified maximum contribution receiving Income Tax relief under the age limit is therefore:

€65,000 × 20% = €13,000

A €5,000 contribution is within that age-related ceiling. Advanced mode estimates the Income Tax saved by comparing the tax calculation before and after the relievable contribution.

Method and limitations

The calculator subtracts the entered allowable business expenses from gross receipts to create a simplified profit figure.

It then applies:

• the 2026 single-person Income Tax band;
• the Single Person Tax Credit;
• the Earned Income Credit;
• standard USC bands and the self-employed surcharge where relevant; and
• the modelled blended 2026 Class S PRSI rate.

Advanced pension modelling applies the age-related percentage and €115,000 earnings ceiling to the contribution receiving Income Tax relief.

The calculator does not model:

• married or civil-partner tax bands;
• all personal tax credits;
• other employment or rental income;
• losses;
• capital allowances;
• VAT;
• preliminary tax;
• tax already paid;
• proprietary-director treatment;
• company taxation;
• foreign income; or
• every relief available on a Form 11.

It should therefore be used to understand scale and cash flow, not to replace the actual self-assessment return.

Frequently asked questions

How much tax does a self-employed person pay in Ireland?

There is no single fixed percentage. The liability can include Income Tax, USC and Class S PRSI, and the effective rate depends on profit, credits and reliefs.

Is self-employed tax calculated on turnover?

The key starting point is taxable business profit rather than turnover. Allowable business expenses reduce the profit before personal taxes are calculated.

What is the Earned Income Credit?

Qualifying self-employed income can receive the Earned Income Credit. For 2026 the maximum is €2,000, subject to the qualifying-income calculation.

How much should a sole trader put aside for tax?

A flat percentage can be inaccurate. Use expected annual profit to estimate Income Tax, USC and PRSI, then reserve enough cash to cover that projected liability and update the estimate during the year.

Do self-employed people pay PRSI?

Many self-employed people pay Class S PRSI, subject to the applicable rules.

Can pension contributions reduce the tax bill?

Qualifying personal pension contributions can reduce Income Tax within Revenue’s age-related and earnings limits. They do not reduce USC or PRSI in this calculator.

Is this the same as a Form 11 calculation?

No. It is a planning estimate. A Form 11 can include many items outside this calculator’s scope.