Self-Employment Tax and Married Couples

Each spouse must prepare their own Schedule SE.
Each spouse must pay their own self-employment tax.
Each spouse includes their own social security number (or employer identification number (EIN) if required) on their separate Schedule SE.
Each spouse's Schedule SE is attached to the joint return along with each spouse's separate Schedule C.
- NOTE: If multiple unincorporated business are owned and operated by spouses, each spouse is only required to prepare one Schedule SE to cover multiple Schedule Cs.
  
  For example, if Joe and Mary are partners in three unincorporated businesses, Joe would prepare three Schedule Cs and report the combined net income on one Schedule SE, using his own tax ID on each form. Mary would prepare three Schedule Cs and report her combined net income on one Schedule SE, using her own tax ID on each form.

For self-employment tax purposes, business income is not treated as community property.

The spouse actually carrying on the business is subject to self-employment tax.

Community property states include:

If you're retired and collecting social security benefits you must still pay self-employment tax on self-employment income.

Business Taxes