Freelancers and sole proprietors know the drill. They chase clients, manage books, and shoulder every risk. But come tax time, a stark reality bites: the full 15.3% self-employment tax on net earnings up to $184,500 in 2026. That’s 12.4% for Social Security—both the employee’s 6.2% share and the employer’s match—plus 2.9% for Medicare. W-2 workers? They split it evenly with bosses. Self-employed folks don’t. Take $100,000 in net self-employment income. The bill: $12,400 Social Security tax. Add $2,900 Medicare. Total: $15,300 before income taxes kick in. The IRS offers relief—deduct half ($7,650) above the line. Net hit lands around $12,800 after adjustments, as detailed in a recent Yahoo Finance analysis by Gerelyn Terzo. Still stings. Employees at the same income pay far less out of pocket. Why the disparity? Social Security’s structure dates back decades. Employees and employers each remit 6.2% on wages up to the cap.…