Self-Employed Tax Calculator Ireland
Calculate your income tax, USC and Class S PRSI as a sole trader or freelancer in Ireland for 2026 — including the Earned Income Credit and preliminary tax.
2026 rates verified
What's Different for the Self-Employed
Class S PRSI
Charged at 4.3%, with a minimum annual charge of €650 even if your calculated PRSI is lower.
USC Surcharge
An extra 3% USC applies on self-employed income above €100,000, on top of the standard bands.
Earned Income Credit
Worth €2,000 in 2026, the self-employed equivalent of the PAYE tax credit.
Preliminary Tax & Form 11
Due 31 October (mid-November via ROS). Must be at least 90% of this year's liability or 100% of last year's.
For the full picture — registering with Revenue, allowable expenses and filing your Form 11 — see our Self-Employed Tax Guide.
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and does not constitute professional tax advice. Figures are based on Revenue.ie guidelines for tax year 2026. Individual circumstances vary — always consult a qualified tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.
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How the Calculator Works
Income Tax
The first €44,000 of your income (single) is taxed at 20%. Anything above that is taxed at 40%. Your tax credits reduce the final bill.
USC
Universal Social Charge applies at rates from 0.5% to 8% depending on your income level. Incomes under €13,000 are exempt.
PRSI
Pay Related Social Insurance funds social welfare, pensions and other benefits. The Class A rate is 4.35%, in force since 1 October 2026 (it was 4.20% from January to September). Exempt from age 70.
How Sole Trader Tax Differs From PAYE
The income tax bands are identical. What changes is which credit you get, which PRSI class you pay, whether a USC surcharge applies, and above all when you pay. A PAYE employee is taxed every payday by their employer. A sole trader is taxed once a year on profit, and has to put the money aside in the meantime.
| PAYE employee | Sole trader | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxed on | Gross salary | Profit after expenses |
| Second tax credit | PAYE credit €2,000 | Earned Income €2,000 |
| PRSI | Class A, 4.35% | Class S, 4.35%, min €650 |
| USC surcharge | None | 3% above €100,000 |
| When you pay | Every payday | 31 October, in one go |
| Return to file | None, usually | Form 11 |
One consequence catches people out at lower incomes. Class S PRSI has a floor of €650 a year. On a profit of €15,000, the calculated charge would be €630.00, so you pay the €650 minimum instead. An employee on the same income would pay considerably less.
Worked Example: €120,000 Profit, Single Sole Trader
This example sits above €100,000, so it shows the USC surcharge that only the self-employed pay. Figures are for 2026, with no pension contribution.
| Profit after expenses | €120,000 |
| Income tax at 20% on €44,000 | €8,800 |
| Income tax at 40% on €76,000 | €30,400 |
| Less: personal and Earned Income credits | – €4,000 |
| Income tax due | €35,200 |
| USC on the standard bands | €5,630.62 |
| USC surcharge, 3% on €20,000 | €600.00 |
| Class S PRSI at 4.35% | €5,040 |
| Total due to Revenue | €46,470.62 |
| Income after tax | €73,529.38 |
The effective rate is 38.7%, but the marginal rate is 55.2%: 40% income tax, 11% USC once the surcharge applies, and 4.35% PRSI. On this income, roughly €3,872.55 a month needs to be set aside to meet the bill when it lands. A separate business account makes that far easier to hold onto.
Key Dates and Obligations
Pay and file deadline. You file the Form 11 for the year just ended, pay any balance owed for it, and pay preliminary tax for the current year. Filing and paying through ROS usually extends this to mid-November.
Must be at least 90% of your final liability for the current year, or 100% of the prior year's liability. Falling short means interest.
Register for income tax with Revenue using Form TR1 when you start trading. If you also have PAYE employment, both incomes go on the same Form 11.
Keep invoices, receipts and bank statements for six years. Expenses must be wholly and exclusively for the business, and where something is used privately as well, only the business share is allowable.
Our step-by-step guide to filing a Form 11 walks through the return itself, and the freelancer tax guide covers allowable expenses in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is self-employed tax calculated in Ireland?
Self-employed income is taxed using the same income tax bands as PAYE (20% and 40%), but you claim the Earned Income Credit (€2,000 in 2026) instead of the PAYE credit, and pay Class S PRSI instead of Class A. You are taxed on your profit, meaning income after allowable business expenses, not on your turnover.
What PRSI class do self-employed workers pay?
Self-employed sole traders and company directors pay Class S PRSI at 4.3%, with a minimum annual charge of €650 even if your calculated PRSI would be lower.
Do self-employed workers pay extra USC?
Yes. Self-employed (non-PAYE) income above €100,000 attracts an additional 3% USC surcharge on top of the standard USC bands, so the top marginal USC rate becomes 11%.
When is preliminary tax due for the self-employed in Ireland?
Preliminary tax for the current year and the balance of tax for the prior year are both due together on 31 October, or mid-November if you pay and file your Form 11 through ROS. Preliminary tax must be at least 90% of the current year's final liability or 100% of the prior year's liability.
What is the Earned Income Credit?
The Earned Income Credit is worth €2,000 in 2026 and is available to self-employed individuals and proprietary directors who do not qualify for the PAYE tax credit.
Why is my first year of self-assessment so expensive?
Because two payments fall due on the same date. On 31 October you pay the balance of tax for the year just ended and preliminary tax for the current year. Many sole traders set aside money for the first bill and are caught out by the second. Setting aside a percentage of every invoice from the start avoids this.
Do I need to register for VAT as a sole trader?
Only once you pass the VAT registration thresholds, which are separate from income tax. VAT is not included in this calculator. Check Revenue's current thresholds for services and for goods, as they differ.