Running a business
How much should you set aside?
What to move to a separate account every time you get paid.
A starting point, not tax advice. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
What this does not cover. An estimate, not a filing. It does not model every credit, the small business deduction, instalment requirements, or income split across a household.
How this works
What the number means
Self-employment income arrives with no tax deducted, and both halves of CPP are yours to pay. The bill lands all at once, which is why a percentage moved aside on every payment is the habit that prevents most April emergencies.
This estimates federal and Ontario income tax on your total income, plus CPP at the self-employed rate on your business income, then expresses it as a percentage of the self-employment portion.
Worked example. On $70,000 of net self-employment income with no other income, the estimate is roughly a quarter to a third set aside — the calculator gives the figure for your own numbers.
Sources
- CRA — Current year tax rates and income brackets (2026) — modified 25 June 2026
- CRA — CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions — modified 31 October 2025
- CRA — T4032-ON Payroll Deductions Tables, Ontario — modified 17 December 2025
Rates change. The CRA page is the authority, and these are reviewed every January.
Questions
When is my personal return due?
April 30 for most people. If you or your spouse are self-employed you have until June 15 to file, but anything you owe is still due April 30.
Next step
Want someone to check the real figure?
A calculator estimates. A consultation answers for your actual situation. The first one is free.