Why we're better than every
other calculator site.
Most calculators give you a number. We give you an education.
Other calculators are black boxes.
- You enter a salary. A number appears. No formula. No explanation of why.
- Self-employment tax is often missing or wrong for 1099 workers.
- The QBI deduction (20% pass-through for contractors) is almost never included.
- Results are surrounded by affiliate ads — the “recommended product” is whoever paid most.
- You trust the number blindly because there's nothing else to look at.
A calculator that doesn't show its work isn't a tool — it's a slot machine. You pull a lever and get a number, but you don't know if it accounts for your specific situation: your filing status, your state, your deductions, your retirement contributions.
For W-2 employees, this is an inconvenience. For 1099 contractors and freelancers, it's a real financial risk — because the IRS calculates your taxes completely differently, and most calculators never acknowledge that.
ShowMath™ — Every formula, exposed.
Every Reise tool shows the exact formula that produced the result — with your actual numbers substituted in. You can verify the math yourself. You understand what changed when you adjust an input. You walk away knowing why the number is what it is.
The exact equation, with your numbers substituted in. Verify it yourself.
What is the 92.35% factor? Why 15.3%? We explain every term.
SE tax, QBI deduction, quarterly payments — the things that actually matter for 1099 workers.
Feature comparison.
| Feature | Other Calculators | Reise Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Formula shown | ||
| Step-by-step explanation | ||
| Built for 1099 / contractors | ||
| Free with no account required | ||
| QBI deduction included in tax math | ||
| SE tax (self-employment) split shown | ||
| Affiliate transparency | ||
| Side-by-side scenario comparison |
Run a calculation right now.
No account required. Open any tool and hit ShowMath™ to see the formula — on your first calculation.
Side-by-side comparison of a job offer vs freelance income after all taxes. Accounts for SE tax, FICA, benefits, 401k match, expenses, and retirement — the winner highlighted in emerald.
Calculate your quarterly IRS payments with QBI deduction (Section 199A), safe harbor, and all 4 due dates. Adds the 20% pass-through deduction that most freelancers forget to claim.
Same gross pay, wildly different take-home. See exactly how W-2 and 1099 offers compare after self-employment tax, FICA, and employer benefits — then get the break-even number that tells you exactly what to negotiate.
How we compare, site by site.
Wondering how Reise Tools stacks up against a specific site you already use? We've done an honest, feature-by-feature breakdown for each one.