Amount actually deferred has nothing to do with the amount entered into line 18 of the SE form. What you want to do is delete Schedule 3, and make sure you don't have one. Schedule 3 is the form that tells you how much you are choosing to defer. If you get rid of it, then you won't be choosing anything to defer, and that gets you out of the whole thing. I was able to file my taxes with an amount entered on line 18 of the SE form without deferring anything. The key is making sure you delete Schedule 3, if it exists.
