Self-Employment Tax
Social Security and Medicare taxes paid by self-employed individuals on net self-employment income.
Self-employment tax (SE tax) is the Social Security and Medicare tax paid by individuals who work for themselves rather than as employees. For employees, these taxes are split equally between employer and employee—each paying 7.65% (6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare). Self-employed individuals pay both halves, resulting in a 15.3% self-employment tax rate on net self-employment income up to the Social Security wage base ($168,600 in 2024), plus 2.9% Medicare tax on income above that threshold, plus an additional 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).
Self-employment income includes earnings from freelancing, consulting, sole proprietorships, partnerships where the partner materially participates, and certain LLC member income. SE tax is calculated on Schedule SE and reported on Form 1040.
Two important deductions reduce the SE tax burden: First, SE tax is calculated on 92.35% of net self-employment income (not 100%), reflecting the employer-side deduction that W-2 employees effectively receive. Second, self-employed individuals can deduct one-half of SE tax paid as an above-the-line deduction on Form 1040, reducing adjusted gross income.
Electing S corporation status can reduce SE tax liability for business owners. S corp shareholder-employees pay SE taxes only on W-2 wages, not on profit distributions—a strategy that requires paying a 'reasonable compensation' salary to avoid IRS scrutiny.
Self-employed individuals are also responsible for making quarterly estimated tax payments (combining income tax and SE tax) rather than having taxes withheld by an employer.
FAQs
How do self-employed individuals reduce their SE tax liability?
Common SE tax reduction strategies include electing S corporation status and taking a reasonable salary (only wages face SE tax, not distributions), maximizing retirement contributions (SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), SIMPLE IRA contributions reduce net earnings), deducting legitimate business expenses to reduce net self-employment income, and structuring qualifying rental activities as non-SE income. The self-employed health insurance deduction and the one-half SE tax deduction also reduce AGI, providing additional income tax savings beyond the SE tax itself.
Do S corporation distributions avoid SE tax?
Yes—distributions from an S corporation to a shareholder-employee are not subject to SE tax, unlike wages. This creates a planning opportunity: by paying a reasonable salary (subject to FICA taxes) and taking additional profits as distributions, S corp owners can reduce their total employment tax burden. However, the IRS scrutinizes S corp compensation—paying unreasonably low salaries to shift income to distributions is a common audit trigger. Reasonable compensation must reflect what the market would pay for similar services.
At what income level is SE tax no longer calculated at 15.3%?
The 12.4% Social Security portion of SE tax applies only to net self-employment income up to the Social Security wage base ($168,600 in 2024). Income above this threshold is subject only to the 2.9% Medicare portion, making the effective SE tax rate above the wage base 2.9% (plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 for single filers). This structure means that for high earners, the marginal SE tax rate drops significantly once they exceed the wage base—providing natural tax relief on income above that threshold.
Related Terms
Quarterly Estimated Tax
Prepayment of income and self-employment taxes made four times per year by self-employed individuals and investors.
Passive Activity Rules
IRS rules limiting deduction of losses from activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate.
Qualified Business Income Deduction
20% deduction for pass-through business income under IRC Section 199A for eligible self-employed taxpayers.
FLSA Compliance
Adherence to Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for minimum wage, overtime pay, and recordkeeping.
