The coastland times., 1959-04-03
DOCTORS ONLY
ARE NOT UNDER
SOCIAL SECURITY
BY EARL w. TRINKLE
Field Representative


operator. Now that doesn't rhyme
quite as well as when we use
"candlestick maker" But then thai
sort of occupation is thing of the
past, too, and there are more peo-
| pie in the business of renting to
US hopeful fishermen than there
are candlestick makers.
/ Anyway, all If m p o y
butchers, bakers, and others in
business for themselves will find
time is running out for reporting
and paying on their social secur-
ity income earned in 1858.
There are still quite few peo-
pie who believe that the only ones
who are classified as self-employ-
ed are those who own a store, res
taurant, gas station, garage, beau
ty parlor, barber shop, cafe and
the like. That just isn't so.
There are literally tens of
thousands of people who are self
employed and who carry on their
operations in or from their own
homes. Mrs. A takes in roomers
and is self-empioyed. Mr.. B has a
workshop in his cellar and makes
wood gadgets that he sells-he is
self-employed. Mr.. X sells live bait
to fishermen in his neighborhood-
he is self-employed. Mr.. z has a
small repair shop in his garage in
back of the house-he is self-em-
ployed. Mrs. Y makes fancy cakes
for special occasions right at
home and never leaves her kitchen.
She is self-employed, too. Actu-
ally the only person in business
for himself who cannot be under
social security is the doctor of
medicine. He is excluded by word
ing of the law. All other self-em-
ployed people are under social Sc
curity if they have a trade, busi-
ness, or profession, and if they
have net business income of at
least $400 in a taxable year (usu-
ally calendar year but some
times fiscal year,.
There are many odd or unusual
occupations that can put a person
in the category of self-employed
"a man might go around looking
for, gathering up and selling
pieces of driftwood. If he does it
often enough and nets $400 in a
year, then he is self-employed for
that year. Or he could go into the
woods gathering up a certain kind
of evergreen that is used for MAX
ing Christmas wreaths and decor
ations-if he does it fairly stead
lily, he is self-employed and would
be required to report his income
if it was at least $400 in a taxa
bic year.
Do you have an unusual occu-
patton that you never dreamed
would put you in the category of
a self-employed person? If so, and
you are sort of "up a tree" about
your responsibility under social Sc
curity, visit your local social Sc
cry office and get the answers.
Before self-employed individuals
can qualify for retirement bene-
fits, or before their families can be
fully protected for the survivor
benefits that may be due them in
the event of your death, you must
report and you must pay.
There are only three or four
simple rules to keep in mind
about this business of social Sc
curity for self-employed people.
Remembering them and applying
them are prerequisites to getting
the most out of the program:
1. If in doubt, inquire at the
nearest social security office.
2. Self-employed persons whose
net business income is $400 a year
must file Schedule C (Schedule +
for self-employed farmers) and
pay the required tax, which for
1858 is 1873 percent on income
up to $4,000. The social security
tax can range from $3.50 to a
top of SALTS.
1 8. Be sure to fill out completely
all sections of Schedule c (or
Schedule F. including the tear-off
section at the bottom, which will
be used to credit your social Sc
curity account.
| A. Be certain to include only
, business income and deduct only
those expenses that are attributa-
: BILE to your business.