Free tool · Ontario · 2026 tax year
Type in your net self-employment income and see roughly what you owe for 2026: federal income tax, Ontario income tax, and CPP — plus whether CRA will want you paying in quarterly instalments.
Drag the slider or type an exact amount. Use your income after expenses, not your gross billings.
Income tax and CPP at self-employed rates on the amount you enter. No employer withholds anything for you.
"Estimate my freelance taxes" and "figure out self-employment tax" are the same question. CRA treats freelance income as self-employment income, so the arithmetic above applies to freelancers exactly as written. The difference from a salaried job: no employer withholds anything for you — the number on screen is yours to set aside yourself, invoice by invoice.
Start with net freelance income — everything clients paid you, minus business expenses (software subscriptions, home office, mileage, portfolio costs). The slider assumes income after expenses, not gross billings; using gross numbers inflates the estimate.
Use the verdict line as your set-aside rate. At $75,000 net, the tool suggests roughly 29% of every invoice held back for tax and CPP; the percentage climbs with income because the marginal brackets stack. Park that share in a separate account the day each invoice is paid, and the April deadline stops being a shock.
Watch the instalment trigger. Once your estimated bill tops $3,000 — and you owed more than $3,000 in either of the two previous years — CRA expects quarterly instalments (March 15, June 15, September 15, December 15). First full year freelancing? No instalments are required yet, but start the set-aside habit now anyway.
Freelance income tax and GST/HST are separate questions. This calculator covers income tax and CPP only. You charge GST/HST on freelance invoices only once registered: registration is required when your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, and you may not collect the tax before registration is active. The full walkthrough is in how to register for GST/HST in Canada.
How do freelancers estimate their taxes in Ontario?
Add up your net freelance income (billings minus business expenses), then run it through the federal and Ontario brackets plus CPP — which is exactly what this calculator does. The short version: enter your number above and use the verdict percentage as your per-invoice set-aside rate.
Do freelancers pay CPP?
Yes. As a self-employed person you pay both halves: 11.9% on 2026 earnings from $3,500 to $74,600, plus 8% on the second tier up to $85,000. Employees split the cost with an employer; freelancers don't have that option, which is why the CPP line in the results looks steep.
Do I need to charge GST/HST on my freelance invoices?
Only if you're registered. Registration becomes required once your taxable sales exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters; below that it's optional. You cannot collect the tax before your registration is active — never put a GST/HST number on an invoice before you have one.
What if my freelance income is only a side gig?
The calculator assumes all of your income is self-employment income. If you also have a salary, your total is your salary plus this estimate — but the salary portion has already had tax withheld, so don't double-count it. Talk to an accountant if the mix is more than a quarter of your income.
Income tax. Your income is taxed at 2026 federal brackets (14% to $58,523; 20.5% to $117,045; 26% to $181,440; 29% to $258,482; 33% above) plus 2026 Ontario brackets (5.05% to $53,891; 9.15% to $107,785; 11.16% to $150,000; 12.16% to $220,000; 13.16% above, including the Ontario surtax), minus the federal and Ontario basic personal amounts.
CPP. Self-employed contributors pay both halves: 11.9% of earnings from $3,500 to $74,600, plus 8% from $74,600 to $85,000 (the second earnings tier).
Instalments. CRA requires quarterly instalments when your net tax owing exceeds $3,000 in the current year and in either of the two previous years ($1,800 in Quebec). The four due dates are March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. The tool shows the current-year estimate divided by four; CRA lets you pick whichever calculation method gives the lowest instalments. Self-employed filers get until June 15 to file, but any balance is still due April 30.
Sources: CRA 2026 federal brackets and basic personal amount; Ontario Ministry of Finance 2026 brackets; CRA 2026 CPP/YMPE/YAMPE figures; CRA instalment rules as summarized by CRA and cross-checked against current 2026 guidance.
Next step: read the full step-by-step guide: How to Start Freelancing in Canada