Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Feb 15, 2025 5:16:37 PM

My wife and i are both self employed, filing jointly. My business loss is greater than her profit. Do we need to pay self employment tax?

Must my wife and I pay self employment tax if we have a net operating loss between our businesses and net taxable income is zero?

0 2 1056
2 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 15, 2025 5:27:58 PM

The owner of the business that made a profit will pay Self-Employment tax on that income. 

Self-Employment tax is the FICA tax that funds the Social Security Account of that Taxpayer. 

 

Loss on one business does not offset the income on the other as far as "Self-Employment Tax" is concerned. 

The loss will lower your taxable income for "Income Tax" computation. 

New Member
Feb 17, 2025 9:36:14 AM

Thank you very much for your help!