"Does the SSA look down on my husband getting retirement benefits and then working for me a self employed sole proprietor without being paid."
How doe you think Social Security would be aware that your spouse helps you with your business----unless YOU claim to pay him and put that expense on a Schedule C on your tax return? If you are not paying him, and not entering anything about it on your tax return, it is irrelevant to Social Security--they do not care what he does in his spare time---he could play golf all day, mow grass and trim shrubs, tinker around in the garage, take cooking classes, or help you. If he is not being paid, they don't care.
However, if you decide you want to pay him to work for you, then you will have to put that expense on your Schedule C, and he will have to report that same income on your joint tax return. You will either issue a W-2 or a 1099NEC to him, and that will be entered on your tax return too. If you issue a 1099NEC to him, then he also pays self-employment tax and has to prepare his own schedule C for his business expenses. Depending on how much he is paid and if he is not at full retirement age, his SS benefits could be affected, and his SS may taxed more.
**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.**
