If you are self-employed in Ireland you pay the same income tax rates and USC bands as an employee, plus Class S PRSI, but you calculate and pay it yourself through self-assessment. Each year you file a Form 11 return and pay a balance for last year and preliminary tax for this year, normally by 31 October. In 2026, Citizens Information gives 18 November as the later deadline for those who file and pay online through ROS.
This page covers sole traders. Company directors and partnerships have additional rules, so check Revenue's guidance for your structure. The rates are Revenue's and Department of Social Protection figures as of October 2026.
What you pay: income tax, USC and Class S PRSI
- Income tax at 20% up to €44,000 (single) and 40% above, on profit after allowable expenses. Instead of the employee tax credit you claim the earned income credit, which is the lower of €2,000 or 20% of your earned income. If you also have PAYE income, the two credits together cannot exceed €2,000.
- USC at 0.5%, 2%, 3% and 8% on the standard bands, and nothing if total income is €13,000 or less. A 3% surcharge applies to non-PAYE income over €100,000, which makes 11% on that slice.
- Class S PRSI at 4.2% of income to 30 September 2026 and 4.35% from 1 October 2026, with a minimum annual contribution of €650. For self-assessed filers the rate for 2026 income is a blended 4.2375%, or the €650 minimum, whichever is higher.
Class S gives access to a narrower set of social insurance payments than Class A, according to Citizens Information, so a self-employed person may want to check their entitlements against the Department of Social Protection's list.
Worked examples for 2026
Single person, sole trader, profit after expenses, no pension and no other income. The credits are the €2,000 personal credit and the earned income credit.
| Annual profit | Income tax | USC | Class S PRSI | Total | Left after all three |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €20,000 | €0 | €219.82 | €847.50 | €1,067.32 | €18,932.68 |
| €50,000 | €7,200 | €1,032.82 | €2,118.75 | €10,351.57 | €39,648.43 |
| €120,000 | €35,200 | €6,230.62 | €5,085.00 | €46,515.62 | €73,484.38 |
The €50,000 example in full: €44,000 at 20% is €8,800 and €6,000 at 40% is €2,400, giving gross tax of €11,200. The €2,000 personal credit and €2,000 earned income credit leave €7,200. USC is €60.06 + €333.76 + €639.00. PRSI is 4.2375% of €50,000. At €20,000, tax of €4,000 is wiped out by the credits. At €120,000 the 3% USC surcharge applies to the last €20,000 above €100,000, so that slice bears 11% USC: €2,200 on its own.
Set money aside as you earn it. A sole trader on €50,000 profit owes about €10,352 across the three charges in 2026, around 21% of profit, and none of it is deducted at source.
Deadlines and preliminary tax
Preliminary tax is the payment on account for the current year. It must be at least the lowest of 90% of the current year's tax, 100% of the previous year's tax, or 105% of the tax for the year before that (the last option only if you pay by direct debit and that year's tax was not nil). Revenue says it is due by 31 October of the tax year.
| Item | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Form 11 for 2025, balance due for 2025 and preliminary tax for 2026 | 31 October 2026 |
| Same items, filed and paid online through ROS | 18 November 2026, per Citizens Information |
Interest is charged on late payment from the due date. Revenue's guide to self-assessment covers late-filing consequences, so read it before you file after a deadline. In your first year, you can choose 100% of the previous year's liability (usually nil) or 90% of the current year's tax.
Registering, records and expenses
You must register with Revenue as self-employed, and if your turnover passes the VAT threshold you must register for VAT, which Revenue sets out on its site. Keep records of sales, purchases, money in and out, plus invoices and bank statements. You do not send them to Revenue, but you need them in case of an audit.
Allowable expenses include goods for resale, wages, rent, repairs, vehicle running costs, accountancy fees and business loan interest. If you work from home, heating, electricity and broadband can be claimed. Only expenses wholly for the business reduce profit; personal costs do not. Reducing profit lowers all three charges, which is why accurate expense records pay for themselves.
Pensions and the refund route
A self-employed person can claim pension relief on Form 11 in ROS, based on net relevant earnings and the age-related limits explained in pension tax relief. Relief reduces income tax, not USC or Class S PRSI. If you have overpaid in earlier years, claim through the same Form 11 route; see how to claim a tax refund. The PRSI rate history is in PRSI explained.
Frequently asked questions
When is the self-employed tax deadline in 2026?
31 October 2026, or 18 November 2026 if you file and pay online through ROS, according to Citizens Information. The deadline covers the 2025 Form 11, the 2025 balance and 2026 preliminary tax.
What PRSI do self-employed people pay?
Class S, at 4.2% to 30 September 2026 and 4.35% from 1 October, with a €650 minimum. For 2026 income the self-assessed blended rate is 4.2375%.
How much preliminary tax must I pay?
At least the lowest of 90% of this year's tax, 100% of last year's, or 105% of the year before that if paying by direct debit.
Do I get the employee tax credit if I am self-employed?
No. You claim the earned income credit instead, worth up to €2,000, and the two together cannot exceed €2,000 if you have both kinds of income.