Tag Archives: Self-employment

Deducting My Labor

Today TaxMama® hears from Kevin with an idea others have had. “Recently our investment property is actually turning into a little bit of income property. If I hire out a job to be done, I usually write off the expense, including labor. If I do the work myself, is there any way that I can […]

Grant & Fellowship Income

Today TaxMama® hears from Mark in the TaxQuips Forum, who is bewildered. Let me summarize. “Mark received a post-doctoral fellowship that covered his salary to do research. It came with insurance and other employee benefits. The income was reported to him on a 1099-MISC. He paid taxes on the income. Two years later, the IRS […]

Hobby v Business

Today TaxMama® hears from Susan in the TaxQuips Forum, with an interesting twist.  “I am an analyst with a high-tech firm and I teach one course a year at the University Extension in our area. While the course topic is related to my field, I don’t consider myself to be “in the business” of teaching. […]

Medicare Premiums and SE HI Deduction

In a Chief Counsel Memorandum (CCM) dated May 1, 2012, released July 13, 2012, IRS addressed the issue of Medicare premiums and the self-employment health insurance deduction.     For years IRS has stated in its publications that Medicare premiums do not qualify for the self-employed health insurance deduction. In early 2011 IRS stated in its […]

A Lesson from the IRS for Students Starting a Summer Job

Courtesy of the IRS School’s out, but the IRS has another lesson for students who will be starting summer jobs. Summer jobs represent an opportunity for students to learn about the tax system. Not all of the money they earn will be included in their paychecks because their employer must withhold taxes. Here are six […]

Paying Extra Social Security

Today TaxMama® hears from Stephen in the TaxQuips Forum who has a sensible (though late) question.  “In the current economy, raises are hard to come by. I haven’t had a raise in several years. I am 64 1/2 planning on a full retirement at age 66. Can I volunteer to pay more into Social Security […]

Self Employment and Canada

Today TaxMama® hears from Tony in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “I have a friend / client who had self employment income in both US and Canada. He has already filed in Canada and is asking me to use the same income amount declared there, here in the US. He now owes the Canadian […]

Internet Job

Today TaxMama® hears from Cristie in the TaxQuips Forum with a quick question. “I just wanted to know if my husband needs to report the money he makes from an Internet job which pays $400.00 a month? This is on top of his regular job in which taxes are taken out from every paycheck.”

Paying Double SS Tax

Today TaxMama® hears from Stanton in the TaxQuips Forum with this scenario. “A person by June 2012 will have earned $110,200 as an employee, with the maximum Social Security deducted. Then that person becomes an independent contractor for the balance of 2012. Is this person subject to the SS tax for the additional compensation over […]