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New Member
posted Jun 4, 2019 5:07:22 PM

How can I tell if my self-employed (as Dentist) wife is eligible for the "pass through entity" (199A) tax break, and if so, how can I see this on my return?

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 5:07:25 PM

According to the IRS “…any trade or business involving the performance of services in the fields of health, law, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services, brokerage services, or any trade or business where the principal asset of such trade or business is the reputation or skill of 1 or more of its employees.”  Since dentistry would fall into the field of health, it is considered a "Specified Service Trade or Businesses".  Therefore it is not eligible for the 20% under Section 199A, unless your taxable income is less than $315,000 if filing jointly or if her taxable income is less than $157,500 if you file separately.  For more information, see




3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 5:07:25 PM

According to the IRS “…any trade or business involving the performance of services in the fields of health, law, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services, brokerage services, or any trade or business where the principal asset of such trade or business is the reputation or skill of 1 or more of its employees.”  Since dentistry would fall into the field of health, it is considered a "Specified Service Trade or Businesses".  Therefore it is not eligible for the 20% under Section 199A, unless your taxable income is less than $315,000 if filing jointly or if her taxable income is less than $157,500 if you file separately.  For more information, see




New Member
Jun 4, 2019 5:07:26 PM

Thank you! The exact method for checking whether TurboTax had "caught" this and calculated it is an especially helpful piece of information. I was trying to figure out a method for that, short of finishing the entire process.

Expert Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 5:07:29 PM

You're welcome. Thanks for using TurboTax!