How can tax requirements differ for self-employed individuals compared to employees?

Self-employed individuals are responsible for self-employment tax, which is a significant difference from employees. This tax comprises both Social Security and Medicare taxes that, in the case of employees, are split between the employer and the employee. When a person is self-employed, they must pay the full amount of these taxes themselves, which is generally higher than what employees pay since they bear both the employer’s and their own share.

Additionally, self-employed individuals often have to file different tax forms compared to employees. They typically use Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) to report their income and expenses, and they also need to file Schedule SE to calculate their self-employment taxes. This implies greater complexity in tax preparation compared to standard employee tax filings, where the employer handles much of the tax withholding.

The requirement for self-employment tax results in an overall different taxation landscape for self-employed individuals, influencing how they approach their finances and tax planning.