How much tax should you set aside as a freelancer?
When you invoice clients yourself, no employer withholds tax for you. Part of the money that lands in your account is not yours to spend. There is no single percentage that fits everyone, but the method is simple.
1. Estimate your profit
Take your expected income for the whole year and subtract the business expenses you can deduct. What is left is an estimate of your profit – that is what the tax is calculated on.
2. Find your own rates
Which rates apply depends on the country you pay tax in, how much you earn in total, and whether you also have a salary. In Norway, for example, self-employed people pay national insurance contribution (trygdeavgift) on business income; the current rates are published by Skatteetaten.[source] We deliberately do not give a percentage here – look up the rates for your year.
3. Multiply and spread it out
Profit × your rates gives an estimate of the tax. Divide by 12 for a monthly amount, or move a share of every payment you receive to a separate tax account.
4. Adjust as you go
If your income changes, so does your tax. In Norway, check your advance tax with Skatteetaten and ask for a change if it no longer matches what you actually earn.[source]
The free Tax Reserve Calculator does steps 1–3 for you: enter four numbers and it shows the reserve in total, per month and per quarter. If you run a Norwegian ENK, the ENK-kit (in Norwegian) uses Norwegian 2026 rates that you can update yourself.
More guides
Sources
- Skatteetaten: National insurance contribution rates (trygdeavgift) – in Norwegian
- Skatteetaten: Advance tax (forskuddsskatt) – in Norwegian
- Skatteetaten: Starting and running a business – in Norwegian
Last updated: 15 October 2026. General information, not tax advice. Always check with your tax authority (in Norway: Skatteetaten and your own page there) for your own figures and deadlines.