Self-Employment Tax Plot Unraveled by Court

In a new case decided by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Slaughter, CA-11 No. 20-10786, 8/3/21, a famous author of crime novels was held liable for underreported self-employment income.

Generally, a self-employed individual must pay federal income tax as well as self-employment tax on the net self-employment income received during the year. Net self-employment income is essentially your gross income from your business activities less deductible business expenses.

This income is subject to income tax at ordinary income rates. The self-employment tax rate is double the regular payroll tax rate for employees—15.3% instead of 7.65%—but half of the tax is deductible.

Facts of the new case: The taxpayer is a best-selling author who lives in Georgia. She is known for her gritty crime fiction novels.

In 2010, the taxpayer received more than $5.4 million from publishing contracts after deducting her agent’s fees and expenses. However, on her income tax return for that year, she reported only $875,000 as gross business income.