Treatment of Self-Employment Income - 400-19-55-15-25-20
(New 2/1/2015 ML #3426)
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When an individual is actively engaged in a self-employment business, the income they receive is considered earned income. The following types of income are always considered earned income:
- Capital or Ordinary Gains/Losses
 - Farm Income
 - Business Income
 - Partnership – Ordinary income, guaranteed payments to partners, depreciation and depletion
 
However, there are some types of income included on the self-employment income tax forms that are considered unearned income. The following types of income are considered unearned income:
- Royalty income
 - Partnership – rental, interest and dividend income
 - Income from S-Corporations
 - Estate or trust income
 
The following types are considered earned or unearned depending on whether the individual is actively engaged in earning the income and the self-employment tax forms filed.
- Farm rental income
 - Other rental income
 
The earned income must be separated from the unearned income and will be when using the self-employment calculation worksheet.

