Self-Employment Definition
Self-employment is defined as working for oneself rather than working for an employer.
Participants are considered self-employed when one or more of the following is met:
●Federal income tax returns that identify their self-employment status are filed.
●The intention is to make a profit or produce income as a regular occupation.
●They represent to others that they are engaged in a business of selling goods or providing a service.
●They are available to take on additional clients.
●They have documentation that supports their claim of self-employment.
●They are members of a business or trade association.
●They do not have an employer - employee relationship with a single person or organization.
NOTE An employer-employee relationship includes, and is not limited to, when a person or organization sets the work hours for the participant or pays the employer's portion of payroll taxes. When there is an employer-employee relationship, see the income types listed in
Earned Income(g).
Income from self-employment may include, and is not limited to, any of the following situations:
●Income received directly from one's own business, a sole proprietorship, as an independent contractor, or as a member of a partnership.
NOTE Corporations(g) or
Limited Liability Companies(g) that file taxes as corporations are not considered self-employment. (See
Dividends and Royalties.)
●Income received from odd jobs or from irregular and varied activities.
●Income received from providing services.
●Income received from selling or reselling goods, including personal property and items purchased for the purpose of resale.
●Income received from working for others on a commission or piecework basis.
See any of the following types of income listed in the CNAP Manual for more information about income types that are frequently considered self-employment income: