Better Than TurboTax's Free Calculator — Free Calculators That Show Their Work
TurboTax's free calculator shows you a number — your bill — and then funnels you toward paid filing software. This page is for the self-employed worker who wants to understand *why* the bill is what it is, and *how* to lower it before next quarter. Reise shows the SE tax formula, the half-SE deduction, every federal bracket your income crosses, and the levers that actually move the number.
What makes Reise different
- Shows its math step by step so you can audit every number.
- Always free, with no account wall between you and the estimate.
- Built for 1099 contractors who need practical planning, not vague averages.
Featured calculator
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Calculate your exact self-employment tax using the IRS formula. Shows SE tax (SS + Medicare), the half-SE deduction, 2024 federal income tax brackets, effective rate, take-home pay, and quarterly estimated payment.
Simple comparison
| Feature | Reise | TurboTax Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| ShowMath on every calculation | ✗ | |
| Freelancer-specific (1099/SE tax) | ||
| Free forever, no upsell | ||
| IRS source citations in the math panel | ✗ | |
| Mobile-optimized, no account wall | ✗ |
FAQ
How is this different from TurboTax's free self-employment calculator?
TurboTax outputs your estimated tax and a prompt to start filing. Reise outputs the same number, plus the IRS formula (Net SE × 0.9235 × 15.3%), the bracket-by-bracket federal math, and the specific deductions moving your bill — so you know which levers to pull before next quarter.
Do I still need TurboTax to file?
Reise is a planning calculator, not filing software. Most freelancers use a free calculator like this throughout the year for planning and set-aside decisions, then file with whatever software or CPA they prefer in April. There is no upsell here.
Does this show the half-SE tax deduction and QBI deduction?
Yes. The ShowMath panel breaks out the deductible half of SE tax (the adjustment to AGI) and notes where QBI applies. These are the two deductions most generic calculators skip or bury.
Is it updated for the current tax year?
Yes — the SE tax calculator uses 2024 Social Security wage base, Medicare thresholds, and federal brackets. Every number is cited to the IRS source in the math panel.
Ready to see the math?
Every formula. Every bracket. Every deduction. No signup, no upsell, no advisor pitch — just the numbers you need to plan your quarter.