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What are My Self-Employed Tax Obligations?
As a self-employed individual, generally you are required to file an annual return and pay estimated tax quarterly.
Self-employed individuals generally must pay self-employment tax (SE tax) as well as income tax. SE tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax primarily for individuals who work for themselves. It is similar to the Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of most wage earners. In general, anytime the wording “self-employment tax” is used, it only refers to Social Security and Medicare taxes and not any other tax (like income tax).
Before you can determine if you are subject to self-employment tax and income tax, you must figure your net profit or net loss from your business. You do this by subtracting your business expenses from your business income. If your expenses are less than your income, the difference is net profit and becomes part of your income on page 1 of Form 1040. If your expenses are more than your income, the difference is a net loss. You usually can deduct your loss from gross income on page 1 of Form 1040. But in some situations your loss is limited. See Pub. 334, Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C or C-EZ) for more information.
You have to file an income tax return if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. If your net earnings from self-employment were less than $400, you still have to file an income tax return if you meet any other filing requirement listed in the Form 1040 instructions (PDF).
THE IRS “GET MY PAYMENT” WEBSITE KEEPS GIVING ME ERROR MESSAGES! Do you or your colleagues have any insights re the IRS “GET MY PAYMENT” website? I SUCCESSFULLY entered my DOB, street address and Zip Code into “GET MY PAYMENT”. However, this time it REJECTED my 9-digit SSN which I entered as: xxxxx6892. Note that the above St. ADDR. / ZIP is a temporary address for an AZ cancer clinic where I’m currently being treated. Also, note that I successfully received my previous two stimulus checks via DD using the above information (bank’s routing / acct numbers haven’t changed). I called the IRS, IRS Fiscal Services Bureau and the Treasury Dept., and all I got were referrals back to IRS.GOV which directed me to contact my local IRS. Thanks for your help.