If you are self-employed you are required to pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare---that is how you are building credits for Social Security.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902389-why-am-i-paying-self-employment-tax
Please explain "we both own the business." What is the business? How is it set up? Is it a sole proprietorship, an S-corps, C-corps or partnership?
Are you new to self-employment? You are posting from online Deluxe, which cannot provide a schedule C if you need to enter business expenses. Please provide more information.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
