Hey Product Hunt! 👋

I'm excited to share the 1099 vs W-2 Calculator — a free tool designed to solve a huge dilemma faced by US freelancers, remote contractors, and job switchers.

### The Problem:

A $100k W-2 salary is NOT equal to a $100k 1099 contractor offer. In fact, most people end up losing thousands of dollars when switching because they overlook:

1. Self-Employment Tax: As a 1099 worker, you pay the full 15.3% SE tax (covering both employee and employer FICA halves).

2. Lost Employer Benefits: Health insurance subsidies, 401(k) matching, and paid time off (PTO) add roughly 25%–35% in hidden value to a W-2 job.

3. Unclear Break-Even Rate: Most consultants don’t know the exact hourly or annual rate they must charge on a 1099 contract to match their current employee take-home pay.

### Why I Built This Tool:

Most existing calculators are either behind paywalls, stuffed with intrusive ads, or force you to sign up before showing your numbers.

I wanted to build a clean, lightning-fast, and completely free web utility that models the real financial picture side-by-side in seconds — factoring in:

- Self-employment tax (15.3% on net earnings)

- Federal & state income tax rates

- Qualified Business Income (QBI) deductions

- Health insurance premiums & business expenses

- Employer benefit valuation & unpaid time off

### Who Benefits the Most?

- US Freelancers & Consultants: To calculate their exact break-even hourly rate before quoting a client.

- Tech Professionals Weighing Job Offers: To accurately compare an in-house W-2 salary against an attractive-looking 1099 contract.

- Hiring Managers & Founders: To determine fair market compensation when converting roles between full-time and contractor positions.

It’s 100% free, requires no login/signup, and processes everything in your browser.

Would love to hear your thoughts, feedback on the tax breakdown model, and any feature requests! 🚀