calculators.ieAll calculators

Self-employed tax calculator

2026 and 2027 rates

Work out the income tax, USC and Class S PRSI on your profit as a sole trader, and how much preliminary tax to pay.

Tax year
I know my
Tax status
More options
Total tax for the year 
Income tax
 
USC
 
PRSI
 
Take-home a month
 
Effective rate
 
Marginal rate on profit
 
Income after tax for the year
Paying the tax

 

Income tax
Universal Social Charge
PRSI

This is an estimate for general information, based on the rates and rules described on this page. It is not financial, tax or legal advice and does not take account of your full circumstances. Check your own position with Revenue or a qualified tax adviser before making a decision. Terms of use.

Illustration for the self-employed tax calculator

Worked example

Single sole trader, €60,000 profit, 2026. Income tax is 20% of the first €44,000 (€8,800) plus 40% of the other €16,000 (€6,400), less the personal credit of €2,000 and the earned income credit of €2,000: €11,200.00.

USC is €1,332.82: 0.5% of €12,012, 2% of €16,688, 3% of €31,300. Class S PRSI is 4.2375% of €60,000: €2,542.50.

Total tax is €15,075.32, an effective rate of 25.1%, leaving €44,924.68 (€3,743.72 a month). Preliminary tax for 2026 is at least €13,567.79 (90%), due by 31 October 2026. In a first year with no preliminary tax paid, the bill on 31 October 2027 is €30,150.64: the 2026 tax plus the same again as preliminary tax for 2027.

How self-employed tax is calculated

Income tax

Your profit (income less allowable expenses and capital allowances) is added to any other income and taxed at 20% up to the standard rate band and 40% above it. In 2026 the band is €44,000 for a single person, €48,000 for a single parent and €53,000 for a married couple, rising by up to €35,000 when both have income. Personal pension contributions come off the income before tax, within age limits.

Tax credits then reduce the tax: the personal credit (€2,000, or €4,000 for a couple) and the earned income credit of €2,000. The earned income credit is limited to 20% of the profit, and if you also have a PAYE job, it and the employee credit together cannot exceed €2,000.

USC

If your income is over €13,000, USC is charged on all of it: 0.5% up to €12,012, 2% up to €28,700, 3% up to €70,044, 8% above €70,044. Self-employed income over €100,000 pays an extra 3%. Pension contributions do not reduce USC.

Class S PRSI

Class S is charged on self-employed income of €5,000 or more, with a minimum of €650 a year. The rate in 2026 is 4.2% from 1 January and 4.35% from 1 October, so the Form 11 uses a blended rate of 4.2375%. There is no PRSI credit or weekly exemption as there is for employees, and no Class S from age 66.

Preliminary tax and the Form 11

Self-assessed tax is paid once a year. By 31 October you file the Form 11 for the year before, pay its balance, and pay preliminary tax for the current year. Preliminary tax has to be at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's, whichever is lower (105% of the year before last by direct debit). If you file and pay through ROS the deadline is later: 18 November 2026 in 2026.

What is not included

  • Rental, investment and foreign income, and tax on capital gains.
  • Losses carried forward, the home carer credit and other credits such as medical expenses and rent.
  • Reduced USC for medical card holders under 70, the 65 or over income tax exemption, and the 5% property relief surcharge.
  • Partnerships, company directors and Class K PRSI on unearned income.
  • Where you have a salary, the PAYE figure is an estimate of what payroll deducts, giving all your credits and band to the job.

Sources

Rates last checked 10 October 2026. Every figure is listed on rates and sources.

Figures marked as announced come from Budget 2027 and are not law until the Finance Act 2026 is signed.

Questions

Do self-employed people get the employee tax credit?
No. Self-employed people get the earned income tax credit instead: €2,000 in 2026 and €2,125 in 2027 (announced), or 20% of the profit if that is less. If you also have a PAYE job, the employee and earned income credits together cannot be more than the full employee credit of €2,000.
How much is Class S PRSI?
Class S PRSI is charged on all of your self-employed income once it is €5,000 or more a year, with a minimum payment of €650. The rate rises each October, so Revenue uses one blended rate for the year: 4.2375% for 2026 income (4.2% for 39 weeks and 4.35% for 13 weeks). For 2027 the announced rates give 4.3875%. Pension contributions do not reduce it.
What is preliminary tax?
Preliminary tax is an advance payment of the current year's income tax, USC and PRSI, due by 31 October in that year. To avoid interest it has to be at least the lowest of 90% of this year's tax, 100% of last year's tax, or 105% of the year before last if you pay by monthly direct debit. In your first year in business there is no preliminary tax, so the first bill covers a full year plus preliminary tax for the next one.
When is the Form 11 deadline?
The Form 11 for 2025, the balance of 2025 tax and preliminary tax for 2026 are due by 31 October 2026. If you file and pay through ROS, the date is extended to 18 November 2026. The 2026 return is due by 31 October 2027; Revenue usually announces a later ROS date in the summer before.
What is the USC surcharge for the self-employed?
People whose non-PAYE income is more than €100,000 pay an extra 3% USC on the part above €100,000, so the top USC rate on that income is 11%. PAYE salary does not count towards the €100,000.
I have a PAYE job and a side business. Do I need to file a Form 11?
Yes, if your net non-PAYE income is €5,000 or more, or your gross non-PAYE income is €30,000 or more. Below both, you can declare it through myAccount and pay the tax through your PAYE credits instead. A PAYE worker in 2026 on €40,000 with €20,000 profit from a side business owes about €8,648 on top of the tax taken through payroll.
Do pension contributions reduce my tax?
They reduce income tax, at your highest rate, up to an age-related share of your earnings (15% under 30, rising to 40% from 60) on earnings up to €115,000. They do not reduce USC or PRSI. Contributions paid by the Form 11 deadline can be claimed against the previous year.

Related calculators