How much should you set aside for taxes?

Why a percentage, not a monthly amount

Creator income swings. A fixed monthly transfer over-saves in a bad month, when you can least afford it, and under-saves in a good one, which is exactly when you owe more. A percentage self-adjusts and requires no discipline beyond the first setup.

Where the number comes from

Self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of your net profit — both halves of Social Security and Medicare, because you have no employer paying the other half. Then income tax on top. Working against you: that's a lot. Working for you: half your SE tax is deductible, and most self-employed people also get the 20% qualified business income deduction. This calculator applies both, then adds a couple of points of margin.

Why we round up

Being over is an inconvenience — you have money left. Being under is a bill you can't pay on income you already spent. The asymmetry isn't close, so the recommendation leans high on purpose.

Put it somewhere separate

A different account, ideally one without a card attached. Money in your main balance is money you will eventually spend, however firmly you intend otherwise. This is the single highest-return habit in creator finance and it takes ten minutes to set up.

Then actually pay it quarterly

Setting money aside and still missing the quarterly deadlines gets you a penalty on money you already had. Work out the quarterly amounts, or let keep.fans track the dates and the safe harbor figure for you.