Take-home · Free tool
Monthly Set-Aside Calculator
Know how much of each payout to set aside for tax and contributions so filing season is never a surprise.
What your clients pay you in a typical month, before fees and tax.
Enter your monthly income to see how much to set aside.
Numbers last checked October 19, 2026 · Income tax rates (8%, graduated, OSD, ₱3M threshold), Percentage tax (2551Q, 3%), SSS contribution table, PhilHealth premium rate, Pag-IBIG contribution rate
Your numbers stay in your browser. This is an estimate for information only, not tax advice.
How this calculator works
We multiply your monthly gross by 12, compute the tax for the year, add your contributions, and divide the total by 12. That gives you one amount to move out of every payout.
- 8% option: 8% of your yearly gross above ₱250,000. No percentage tax.
- Graduated + OSD: the graduated tax table applied to 60% of your gross (the 40% optional standard deduction), plus 3% percentage tax on your gross.
- Contributions: SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG as a self-employed member, paid monthly.
Worked example: ₱50,000 a month on the 8% option
- Yearly gross: ₱600,000. Income tax: 8% × (₱600,000 − ₱250,000) = ₱28,000
- SSS ₱5,280 × 12 = ₱63,360; PhilHealth ₱2,500 × 12 = ₱30,000; Pag-IBIG ₱400 × 12 = ₱4,800
- Total ₱126,160 a year, so set aside about ₱10,514 a month (≈ 21% of each payout)
The income tax goes out as ₱0 on May 15 (Q1), ₱4,000 on August 15 (Q2), ₱12,000 on November 15 (Q3) and the last ₱12,000 with the annual return on April 15. On graduated rates with OSD, the same income comes to ₱16,500 income tax plus ₱18,000 percentage tax, or about ₱11,055 a month with contributions.
Common questions
What percentage of my freelance income should I set aside for tax?
It depends on your income and tax option. On the 8% option, income tax alone is 8% of everything above ₱250,000 a year, so it stays under 8% of your gross. SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG come on top of that, and they weigh more on smaller incomes because of their minimums. For example, ₱50,000 a month on the 8% option works out to about 21% with contributions. Enter your numbers above to get your own figure.
Why is my Q1 payment zero but later quarters are bigger?
Form 1701Q is computed on year-to-date income. On the 8% option the first ₱250,000 is not taxed, so early quarters may owe nothing. Once your running total passes that amount, each quarter pays the tax on the year so far minus what you already paid.
Do I pay percentage tax on the 8% option?
No. The 8% rate replaces both the graduated income tax and the 3% percentage tax. If you are on graduated rates and not VAT-registered, you also file Form 2551Q every quarter and pay 3% of your gross.
What if I earn more than ₱3 million a year?
You can no longer use the 8% option, and you have to register for VAT. This calculator does not cover VAT, so use the tax calculator and talk to an accountant.
Based on: BIR · SSS contribution table · PhilHealth · Pag-IBIG Fund