Reporting Self-Employment Tax

Use Schedule SE (Form 1040) to figure and report your SE tax. Then enter the SE tax on line 53 of Form 1040 and attach Schedule SE to Form 1040.

Most taxpayers can use Section A-Short Schedule SE to figure their SE tax. However, certain taxpayers must use Section B-Long Schedule SE. Use the chart on page 1 of Schedule SE (reproduced later) to find out which one to use.

If you have to pay SE tax, you must file a Form 1040 (with Schedule SE attached) even if you do not otherwise have to file a federal income tax return.

Joint return. If you file a joint return, you cannot file a joint Schedule SE. This is true whether one spouse or both spouses have earnings subject to SE tax. If both of you have earnings subject to SE tax, each of you must complete a separate Schedule SE. However, if one spouse uses the Short Schedule SE and the other spouse has to use the Long Schedule SE, both can use the same form. Attach both schedules to the joint return. If you and your spouse operate a business as a partnership, see Husband and wife partners, earlier, under Partnership Income or Loss.

More than one business. If you have more than one trade or business, you must combine the net profit (or loss) from each business to figure your SE tax. A loss from one business will reduce your profit from another business. File one Schedule SE showing the earnings from self-employment, but file a separate Schedule C, C-EZ, or F for each business.

Example. You are the sole proprietor of two separate businesses. You operate a restaurant that made a net profit of $25,000. You also have a cabinetmaking business that had a net loss of $500. You file Schedule SE showing total earnings subject to SE tax of $24,500. You must also file a Schedule C for each business--a Schedule C for the restaurant showing your net profit of $25,000 and another Schedule C for the cabinetmaking business showing your net loss of $500.

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