Guidance for Special Types of Businesses
              Rules for Businesses in Certain Industries/Market Segment Specialization 
              Program Guides (MSSP)/Market Segment Understandings (MSU)
              Farming
              Self-Employment Tax/Farm Optional Method 
              
Self-Employment Tax.
            You usually have to pay SE tax if you are self-employed. 
              You are usually self-employed if you operate your own farm on land 
              you either own or rent. You have to figure SE tax on Schedule 
              SE (Form 1040).
            Self-Employment 
              Income
If you are in the farming business, either as an individual or as a
partner, you may be able to use the farm optional method to figure your net earnings from
farm self-employment. This method allows you to continue paying SE tax for your social
security coverage when your net profit for the year is small or you have a loss.
            Table 
              15-1 Can I Use the Optional Methods?
Important References:
                                                          
            Publication 
              225         
              Farmer's Tax Guide