Frequently asked questions
Common questions about freelance taxes, self-employment tax, and how GigTax works.
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How is self-employment tax calculated?
Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare contributions that employers normally split with employees. As a freelancer, you pay both halves. It's calculated on 92.35% of your net profit, then applies your country's self-employment rate to that amount.
Do I have to pay taxes quarterly as a freelancer?
In most countries with progressive tax systems, yes, if you expect to owe a meaningful amount in tax for the year, you're generally expected to pay estimated taxes quarterly rather than in one lump sum. GigTax shows you an estimated quarterly figure based on your annual projection.
What counts as a business expense I can deduct?
Generally, any cost that's ordinary and necessary for running your freelance work, such as software subscriptions, a portion of home office costs, equipment, internet, professional development, and business-related travel. Keep receipts and consult a local tax professional for anything borderline.
Why is my take-home pay lower than my net profit?
Net profit is your income after business expenses but before tax. Take-home pay is what's left after self-employment tax, federal/national income tax, and any state or regional tax. The gap between the two is your total tax liability.
Does GigTax store my financial information?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, stored, or tracked. Refreshing the page resets all values.
Is GigTax a substitute for professional tax advice?
No. GigTax provides estimates based on published tax brackets to help you plan and budget. Tax rules change, and individual circumstances vary, so always confirm with a qualified accountant or tax professional before filing.
How often is the tax data updated?
GigTax uses 2026 tax brackets for each supported country and region. We update the data annually when new brackets are published by tax authorities.
My country or region isn't listed. What should I do?
Browse the full list of supported countries on the Countries page. If your specific region isn't available, you can use your country's national default estimate as a starting point.
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