How much of a $500 sale does a part-time seller really keep after taxes?
Research question: After self-employment tax, federal income tax, and any state sales tax, how much of a $500 sale does an ordinary US part-time seller actually keep?
The records show that self-employment tax applies once net self-employment earnings reach $400 5, and that only 92.35% of those earnings are subject to it 7. The self-employment tax rate is 12.4% for Social Security plus 2.9% for Medicare 8, and half of that tax can be deducted when computing adjusted gross income 9. Federal income tax applies to taxable income after deductions rather than gross sales 2, and the 2026 standard deduction for single filers is $16,100, which would likely fully offset a $500 sale 3. The facts do not give a state sales tax rate or a final take-home figure, so the exact share kept cannot be determined; applying the self-employment rates to $500 before any costs gives roughly $70 in that tax 78. The newest of these facts is dated 24-Sep-2026, about a month before October 2026 5789.
Sources
"The U.S. income tax system is progressive, meaning different parts of your income are taxed at different rates."Understanding the 2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
"Federal brackets apply to taxable income after eligible adjustments and either the standard deduction or itemized deductions, not directly to gross salary."2026 Federal Tax Brackets — IRS Rates & Income Limits
"Single and married filing separately $16,100"2026 individual tax brackets, and tips for understanding what you pay
"The new bill affected several significant areas, including standard deductions, marginal tax rates, alternative minimum tax exemptions and state and local tax, or SALT , deduction limits."2026 tax brackets and IRS changes: Reference guide
"You usually must pay self-employment tax if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more."Topic no. 554, Self-employment tax
"Our U.S. listing fees, or insertion fees, range from $0.30 to list an item with a minimum bid, opening value or reserve price of under $0.99, to $4.80 to list an item with a minimum bid, opening value or reserve price of $500.00 or more."10-K EBAY INC (EBAY) (CIK 0001065088) 2004-03-08
"Generally, the amount subject to self-employment tax is 92.35% of your net earnings from self-employment."Topic no. 554, Self-employment tax
"This rate consists of 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare taxes."Topic no. 554, Self-employment tax
"When figuring your adjusted gross income on Form 1040, Form 1040-SR, or Form 1040-NR, you can deduct one-half of the self-employment tax."Topic no. 554, Self-employment tax