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Answers · Individual tax · Form 1040

What Is Schedule SE?

Schedule SE computes Social Security and Medicare self-employment tax on qualifying net earnings.

Reviewed August 2026 · Mint Associates Ltd Co · Houston, Texas

How it works

The rule, and what it turns on.

Self-employment tax is separate from income tax. Sole proprietor profit and many partner earnings can be subject to it; S corporation pass-through income generally is not, while wages are subject to payroll taxes.

Example

$60,000 Schedule C profit generally enters the Schedule SE calculation, subject to the statutory formula and wage base.

Common mistakes

What we see go wrong, and what we do instead.

  • Ignoring SE tax when estimating taxes.
  • Using S corp distributions instead of reasonable wages.

A better approach

  • Coordinate estimated payments and withholding.

Authority

Where this comes from, so you can check it.

IRC §§1401-1403; Schedule SE and instructions; IRS Publication 334.

Educational information, not individualized tax advice. Treatment depends on your facts, entity classification and tax year, and IRS instructions change. Confirm your own position with us before relying on it. Mint Associates does not provide legal services.

Also asked

The same question, the other ways people put it.

  • What Is Self-Employment Tax?

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