self-employment tax
The Social Security and Medicare taxes paid by self-employed individuals — equivalent to the combined employer and employee FICA contribution of 15.3%.
Example
“The freelancer paid 15.3% in self-employment tax on net earnings — the 7.65% employee and 7.65% employer shares combined.”
Memory Tip
Self-employment tax = you pay BOTH sides of FICA (employee + employer) = 15.3%.
Why It Matters
Self-employment tax is crucial for self-employed individuals because it represents a significant financial obligation that can substantially increase their overall tax burden compared to traditional employees. Understanding this tax helps business owners budget properly, plan for quarterly payments, and recognize that they bear both the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare contributions.
Common Misconception
Many self-employed people mistakenly believe that self-employment tax is optional or that they can avoid it through business structure alone. In reality, most self-employed individuals must pay this tax on their net earnings regardless of their business type, and the only way to reduce it is through legitimate deductions that lower taxable income.
In Practice
A freelance consultant with $80,000 in net self-employment income would owe approximately $11,304 in self-employment tax, calculated as 92.35 percent of their net income multiplied by 15.3 percent. This means they need to set aside this amount throughout the year in addition to their regular income tax liability, which is why many self-employed individuals make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties.
Etymology
SELF-EMPLOYMENT (working for yourself) TAX. The FICA equivalent for the SELF-EMPLOYED.
Common Misspellings
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