Finance · Colorado · Tax year 2026
Colorado Self-Employment Tax Calculator 2026
On $100,000 of 2026 self-employment profit, a single Colorado sole proprietor with no other income owes about $25,069: $14,130 of self-employment tax, $8,235 of federal income tax, and $2,705 of Colorado income tax. That is 25.1% of profit, or $6,267 for each quarterly estimated payment.
Against its neighbors, the same $100,000 of profit costs $1,682 more in Kansas and $2,705 less in Wyoming.
- State income tax
- 4.4% flat
- Colorado tax on $100,000
- $2,705
- National rank
- #37 highest of 51
- Set aside on $100,000
- 25.1%
- State estimated payments
- Form DR 0104EP
- LLC filing fee
- $50
- State sales tax
- 2.9% + local
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Enter your net profit — revenue minus business expenses — to see how much to set aside and what to pay each quarter.
A 2026 planning estimate using the standard deduction, not a tax return: it ignores credits, itemized deductions, and AMT. All calculations happen in your browser. Nothing is stored.
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Colorado self-employment tax at common profit levels
2026 estimates for a single filer with no other income, using the standard deduction and no retirement or health insurance deductions. "Set aside" is the share of profit to move into a tax account; "Quarterly" is each of the four estimated payments.
| Profit | SE tax | Federal income tax | Colorado tax | Total | Set aside | Quarterly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $5,652 | $1,775 | $742 | $8,169 | 20.4% | $2,042 |
| $60,000 | $8,478 | $3,559 | $1,396 | $13,433 | 22.4% | $3,358 |
| $80,000 | $11,304 | $5,344 | $2,050 | $18,698 | 23.4% | $4,674 |
| $100,000 | $14,130 | $8,235 | $2,705 | $25,069 | 25.1% | $6,267 |
| $150,000 | $21,194 | $16,413 | $4,340 | $41,948 | 28.0% | $10,487 |
| $250,000 | $29,851 | $36,509 | $8,050 | $74,410 | 29.8% | $18,603 |
Married filing jointly
The same profit, earned by one spouse filing jointly with no other household income.
| Profit | SE tax | Federal income tax | Colorado tax | Total | Set aside | Quarterly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $5,652 | $398 | $175 | $6,225 | 15.6% | $1,556 |
| $60,000 | $8,478 | $1,885 | $829 | $11,192 | 18.7% | $2,798 |
| $80,000 | $11,304 | $3,550 | $1,484 | $16,337 | 20.4% | $4,084 |
| $100,000 | $14,130 | $5,335 | $2,138 | $21,602 | 21.6% | $5,401 |
| $150,000 | $21,194 | $9,795 | $3,774 | $34,763 | 23.2% | $8,691 |
| $250,000 | $29,573 | $25,154 | $7,146 | $61,874 | 24.7% | $15,468 |
How Colorado taxes self-employment income
Colorado starts from federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction and the QBI deduction carry through to the state return before Colorado's own adjustments.
- Standard deduction: $0 (none)
- Top rate: 4.4%; your bracket on $100,000 of profit is 4.4%.
2026 Colorado income tax brackets (all filers)
| Taxable income over | Up to | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | and up | 4.4% |
Colorado vs its neighbors
The same $100,000 of 2026 profit for a single sole proprietor, run through each state's rules. Federal tax is the same everywhere, so the difference is state income tax. Against its neighbors, the same $100,000 of profit costs $1,682 more in Kansas and $2,705 less in Wyoming.
| State | State income tax | Total tax | Set aside | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $2,705 | $25,069 | 25.1% | — |
| Kansas | $4,386 | $26,751 | 26.8% | +$1,682 |
| Nebraska | $3,349 | $25,714 | 25.7% | +$644 |
| New Mexico | $3,223 | $25,587 | 25.6% | +$518 |
| Oklahoma | $3,637 | $26,001 | 26.0% | +$932 |
| Utah | $4,135 | $26,499 | 26.5% | +$1,430 |
| Wyoming | $0 | $22,365 | 22.4% | −$2,705 |
How the gap changes with profit
Extra tax (+) or savings (−) for a single filer if the same business were based in each of its neighbors instead of Colorado.
| Profit | Kansas | Nebraska | New Mexico | Oklahoma | Utah | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | +$533 | +$70 | −$111 | +$386 | +$187 | −$742 |
| $60,000 | +$916 | +$262 | +$59 | +$568 | +$601 | −$1,396 |
| $80,000 | +$1,299 | +$453 | +$278 | +$750 | +$1,016 | −$2,050 |
| $100,000 | +$1,682 | +$644 | +$518 | +$932 | +$1,430 | −$2,705 |
| $150,000 | +$2,639 | +$1,123 | +$1,160 | +$1,387 | +$1,863 | −$4,340 |
| $250,000 | +$4,275 | +$1,772 | +$2,235 | +$1,989 | +$2,417 | −$8,050 |
What's different about Colorado for the self-employed
- Colorado taxes federal taxable income at a flat 4.4%, so the federal standard deduction and QBI deduction carry through. From 2026, AGI of $300,000 or more adds back most of the standard deduction, and QBI is added back above $500,000 ($1 million joint).
- Denver charges business owners a $4 monthly occupational privilege tax.
- Some home-rule cities administer and collect their own sales taxes separately from the state, so a seller may need to register and file with those cities directly.
- A Colorado sales tax license costs $16 (prorated by issuance date) plus a $50 deposit at application.
- A late Periodic Report adds a $50 penalty on top of the $25 filing fee; reports are filed online only.
Colorado estimated payments and deadlines
Colorado collects its own estimated income tax with Form DR 0104EP, separately from the IRS. Required if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in net Colorado tax for 2026 after subtracting withholding and credits.
| Installment | Colorado due date | Share of the year | Federal due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April 15, 2026 | 25% | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 | June 15, 2026 | 25% | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 | September 15, 2026 | 25% | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 | January 15, 2027 | 25% | January 15, 2027 |
The 2026 Colorado income tax return is due April 15, 2027.
File and pay through the Colorado Department of Revenue.
LLC fees and sales tax in Colorado
- Forming an LLC: $50 state filing fee.
- Periodic Report: $25, every year, due within two months of your periodic report month.
- Sales tax: 2.9% statewide, plus local rates in many cities and counties. Use the Sales Tax Calculator to price a sale.
A single-member LLC is taxed exactly like a sole proprietorship unless it elects S or C corporation status, so the self-employment tax figures on this page apply either way.
Colorado self-employment tax FAQs
How much should I set aside for taxes if I'm self-employed in Colorado?
For a single filer with no other income, about 22.4% of profit at $60,000, 25.1% at $100,000, and 28.0% at $150,000 for 2026, covering self-employment tax, federal income tax, and Colorado income tax. Enter your own numbers in the calculator for a personal figure.
Does Colorado tax self-employment income?
Yes. Colorado taxes self-employment profit as ordinary income at 4.4% flat rate. Colorado starts from federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction and the QBI deduction carry through to the state return before Colorado's own adjustments.
When are Colorado estimated tax payments due for 2026?
April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, January 15, 2027, using Form DR 0104EP. Required if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in net Colorado tax for 2026 after subtracting withholding and credits.
How much does an LLC cost in Colorado?
The state filing fee to form an LLC is $50. Periodic Report: $25, every year, due within two months of your periodic report month. A single-member LLC is still taxed like a sole proprietorship for federal purposes, so the self-employment tax figures above apply.
Sources and method
Computed with the Self-Employment Tax Calculator's 2026 engine and Colorado's rules from the sources below. Planning estimates, not a return. Last checked 2026-10-08.
- content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/june-2026-forecast-for-posting-accessible_0.pdf
- content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025B/bills/fn/2025b_hb25b-1001_f1.pdf
- www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-proposition-mm-2025-election-healthy-meals
- tax.colorado.gov/sites/tax/files/documents/DR_0104EP_2026.pdf
- tax.colorado.gov/due-date-guide
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/fees/business.html
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/FAQs/reports.html
- tax.colorado.gov/sales-tax-guide