Freelance Take-Home Calculator (Canada, After Tax)
Estimate Canadian freelance take-home after a tax set-aside: the rate you need for a target net income, or the net income from a rate.
Estimate only, not tax advice. The set-aside is a single percentage for tax and social contributions - it does not model brackets, VAT, or deductions, which vary by income, region, and circumstances. Confirm with an accountant.
Rate, costs, tax, and take-home
In Canada, an employee has income tax, CPP, and EI withheld, while a self-employed sole proprietor pays income tax and both halves of CPP on net business income. The default is a rough average that ignores your province and deductions.
A freelance rate has to cover more than your target income. Business costs come off the top, and tax and social contributions come out of the profit, so the rate you bill is well above the money you keep. This tool works in both directions: the rate needed for a target take-home, or the take-home implied by a rate.
The set-aside percentage is pre-filled with a rough average for the country you pick (2026) and is yours to change. It is a planning estimate, not a tax return.
Country questions
Does this vary by province?
Yes, a lot. The default is a rough federal-plus-average-provincial figure; change it for your province and income.
Track the billable hours behind the rate
Sandtime.io records billable and non-billable time as you work, so your real billable share and rate rest on data, not a guess. Free for unlimited users, without surveillance.