Sole Proprietorship

[KECSP]

What is the benefit of being a Sole Proprietor instead of just being an individual who pays self-employment tax? 

[drc845443]

A sole proprietor is someone who owns and runs an unincorporated business by themselves. If you are self-employed and run a business and are paying self-employment tax, then you are a sole proprietor.

[KECSP]

Yes, thank you. Is there a benefit to filing as a sole proprietor versus an individual who pays self-employment tax? I.E. Do you have to be a sole proprietor to claim deductions?

[drc845443]

I apologize if it was not clear. If you are an individual that is running a business and is paying self-employment taxes, then you are a sole proprietor by definition. You do not have to declare yourself to be a sole proprietor, just by virtue of the fact that you are running a business as a sole individual, that makes you a sole proprietor. In other words, what you are describing as "an individual who pays self-employment tax" is a sole proprietor. As long as you have business income and expenses to report, you can take the deductions you are entitled to.