1099 Tax Calculator for Real Estate Agents in All 50 States
Federal self-employment tax, the 2026 income tax brackets, and all 51 state and DC rates for areal estate agent earning $85,000 a year. On a$85,000 gross with $21,000 of business expenses, the estimated total tax is $18,160 — about21.4% of everything you bill.
Real Estate Agent Tax Estimator (2026)
Location: California • State Tax:6.5% Effective (Top 12.3%)
W-2 tax itself is withheld by your employer. Entering wages only moves your 1099 income into its correct, higher bracket and accounts for the Social Security wage base your paycheck already used.
Tailored Write-Offs for Real Estate Agent
Click to toggle deductionsCheck off typical business expenses to automatically update your deduction total:
Total annual tax divided across the 4 IRS estimated payment vouchers.
Hold back from every payout
Gross minus deductible expenses
California has progressive brackets from 1% to 12.3% (plus 1% Mental Health Services tax over $1M). Estimated at ~6.5% median effective rate.
IRS Form 1040-ES Quarterly Payment Voucher Schedule
Deadlines for 2026 estimated tax payments to avoid IRS underpayment penalties.
Tax strategy for real estate agents
Commission-based agents have an unusually clear deduction set: the vehicle used to show property, marketing materials and photography, brokerage fees, and licensing and continuing-education costs. Mileage is the largest single item for an agent who drives to listings daily, and the standard mileage rate is usually more favourable than actual expenses for a vehicle that is also used personally.
Commission income is the most volatile of any role in this catalogue: a single closing can represent a year of income. Never set a quarterly voucher from a good quarter alone. Use the trailing two-year average, and remember the IRS compares your payments against a year that may have had a closing you did not repeat.
Standard write-offs for real estate agents
- Client Tours & Property Mileage+$8,200
- MLS Dues & Realtor Association Fees+$1,850
- Listing Photography & Virtual Tours+$2,400
- Brokerage Desk Fees & Errors Insurance+$3,600
- Yard Signs & Marketing Print+$1,200
Typical amounts, not guaranteed. Track your own costs and keep receipts — the IRS requires substantiation for every deduction you claim.
Real Estate Agent tax calculators by state
Pick your state to see its exact rate, local add-ons, and quarterly voucher deadlines.