Finance Calc App

Australia Freelancer take-home calculator

Self-employment tax, NI, and CPP — real take-home pay for contractors and freelancers.

By Mitch Duncan Last reviewed Methodology

Your income

Take-home
$63,880.00
Total tax & NI
$16,120.00
Effective rate
20.2%
Breakdown
Net SE income$80,000.00
Income tax−$14,520.00
Medicare levy (2%)−$1,600.00
Take-home$63,880.00
  • · Super Guarantee (12%) is on top of your invoiced income — not deducted from it.
  • · Quarterly PAYG instalments required by ATO once income exceeds thresholds.
Next step
Income taxAnnual tax — US, UK, CA, AURead the guideSelf-Employment Tax Explained
Want the full picture? Self-Employment Tax Explained →

Common scenarios

Jump straight to a pre-calculated answer for a typical scenario.

$50k freelance$60k freelance$75k freelance$80k freelance$100k freelance

How Australian sole-trader take-home is calculated

Sole traders report business income on their individual tax return at the same marginal rates as employees — but there's no employer paying super, no PAYG withholding, and GST applies above the turnover threshold.

Worked example (sole trader, $90,000 net)

Unlike an employee, no 12% super is added on top — you must fund retirement yourself, and contributions (up to the concessional cap) are deductible.

PAYG instalments and GST

After your first return the ATO usually puts you on quarterly PAYG instalments toward your expected bill. You must register for and charge GST once turnover exceeds $75,000, lodging Business Activity Statements (BAS) quarterly.

Self-funded super

With no employer contributions, personal concessional super contributions (taxed at 15% in the fund, deductible against income) are the main retirement lever — but the income is locked until preservation age.

Common mistakes

What this doesn't cover

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Key terms

1099 FormSEP-IRA (Simplified Employee Pension) Full glossary →

Frequently asked questions

How much should I save for taxes as a freelancer?
A common rule of thumb: set aside 25–30% of every payment for taxes if you're in the US (covers federal income tax + 15.3% self-employment tax + state tax). UK self-employed should budget 20–40% depending on bracket plus Class 2 and Class 4 NI. Canada and Australia similar to UK ranges. The calculator above gives a specific number for your income.
What is self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax is the freelancer's equivalent of payroll tax. In the US it's 15.3% on the first ~$168,000 of net earnings (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare), plus 0.9% Medicare surtax over $200,000. The UK equivalent is Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance. Canada: CPP self-employed at double the employee rate.
Should I form an LLC or stay as a sole prop?
An LLC mainly provides liability protection — it doesn't change federal income tax by default (default LLCs are taxed the same as sole props). Once profits exceed roughly $50,000–$80,000, electing S-corp taxation can reduce self-employment tax by splitting income between wages and distributions. Speak to an accountant before electing; the structure adds compliance burden.
Can I deduct home office expenses?
Yes if the space is used regularly and exclusively for business. US: simplified method ($5/sq ft up to 300 sq ft) or actual expense allocation. UK: HMRC simplified flat rate based on hours, or proportion of household costs. Canada and Australia have similar regimes. Keep records; the home office deduction is a flagged audit area in the US.

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