Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 1402. Definitions
Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).
Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 1402
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Enacted
- August 30, 1957 by Pub. L. 85–239
- Last amended
- March 23, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–141
- Amendments
- 43 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 12 subsections · 5,689 words · about 25 min to read
- Defines
- 8 terms
- Cross-references
- cites 22; cited by 15 Code sections and 19 other regulations
- Regulations
- 42 issued under this section
Subject to paragraph (2), any individual who is (A) a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church or a member of a religious order (other than a member of a religious order who has taken a vow of poverty as a member of such order) or (B) a Christian Science practitioner, upon filing an application (in such form and manner, and with such official, as may be prescribed by regulations made under this chapter) together with a statement that either he is conscientiously opposed to, or because of religious principles he is opposed to, the acceptance (with respect to services performed by him as such minister, member, or practitioner) of any public insurance which makes payments in the event of death, disability, old age, or retirement or makes payments toward the cost of, or provides services for, medical care (including the benefits of any insurance system established by the Social Security Act) and, in the case of an individual described in subparagraph (A), that he has informed the ordaining, commissioning, or licensing body of the church or order that he is opposed to such insurance, shall receive an exemption from the tax imposed by this chapter with respect to services performed by him as such minister, member, or practitioner. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, an exemption may not be granted to an individual under this subsection if he had filed an effective waiver certificate under this section as it was in effect before its amendment in 1967.
The Secretary may approve an application for an exemption filed pursuant to paragraph (1) only if the Secretary has verified that the individual applying for the exemption is aware of the grounds on which the individual may receive an exemption pursuant to this subsection and that the individual seeks exemption on such grounds. The Secretary (or the Commissioner of Social Security under an agreement with the Secretary) shall make such verification by such means as prescribed in regulations.
Any individual who desires to file an application pursuant to paragraph (1) must file such application on or before the due date of the return (including any extension thereof) for the second taxable year for which he has net earnings from self-employment (computed without regard to subsections (c)(4) and (c)(5)) of $400 or more, any part of which was derived from the performance of service described in subsection (c)(4) or (c)(5).
An exemption received by an individual pursuant to this subsection shall be effective for the first taxable year for which he has net earnings from self-employment (computed without regard to subsections (c)(4) and (c)(5)) of $400 or more, any part of which was derived from the performance of service described in subsection (c)(4) or (c)(5), and for all succeeding taxable years. An exemption received pursuant to this subsection shall be irrevocable.
This subsection shall apply with respect to services which are described in subparagraph (B) of section 3121(b)(8) (and are not described in subparagraph (A) of such section).
An individual shall be deemed to be self-employed on a regular basis in a taxable year, or to be a member of a partnership on a regular basis in such year, if he had net earnings from self-employment, as defined in the first sentence of subsection (a), of not less than $400 in at least two of the three consecutive taxable years immediately preceding such taxable year from trades or businesses carried on by such individual or such partnership.
Notwithstanding subsection (a)(3)(A), in determining the net earnings from self-employment of any options dealer or commodities dealer, there shall not be excluded any gain or loss (in the normal course of the taxpayer’s activity of dealing in or trading section 1256 contracts) from section 1256 contracts or property related to such contracts.
The term “options dealer” has the meaning given such term by section 1256(g)(8).
The term “commodities dealer” means a person who is actively engaged in trading section 1256 contracts and is registered with a domestic board of trade which is designated as a contract market by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
The term “section 1256 contract” has the meaning given to such term by section 1256(b).
For purposes of this section, the term “church employee income” means gross income for services which are described in section 3121(b)(8)(B) (and are not described in section 3121(b)(8)(A)).
The lower limit for any taxable year is the sum of the amounts required under section 213(d) of the Social Security Act for a quarter of coverage in effect with respect to each calendar quarter ending with or within such taxable year.
The upper limit for any taxable year is the amount equal to 150 percent of the lower limit for such taxable year.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 353; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1206, title II, § 201(a)–(c), 68 Stat. 1087; Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 836, title II, § 201(e)(2), (3), (f), (g), (i), 70 Stat. 840–842; Pub. L. 85–239, §§ 1(a), (b), 2, 5(b), Aug. 30, 1957, 71 Stat. 521–523; Pub. L. 85–840, title IV, §§ 402(a), 403(a), Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1042, 1043; Pub. L. 86–778, title I, §§ 101(a)–(c), 103(k), (l), 105(c)(1), 106(b), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 926, 927, 938, 944, 945; Pub. L. 87–64, title II, § 202(a), June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 141; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 227(b)(6), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 98; Pub. L. 88–650, § 2(a), (b), Oct. 13, 1964, 78 Stat. 1076, 1077; Pub. L. 89–97, title III, §§ 311(b)(1)–(3), 312(b), 319(a), (c), 320(b)(1), 331(a), 341(a), (b), July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 381, 390, 391, 393, 401, 411; Pub. L. 89–368, title I, § 102(c), Mar. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 64; Pub. L. 90–248, title I, §§ 108(b)(1), 115(b), 118(a), 122(b), title V, §§ 501(a), 502(b)(1), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 835, 839, 841, 843, 933, 934; Pub. L. 92–5, title II, § 203(b)(1), Mar. 17, 1971, 85 Stat. 10; Pub. L. 92–336, title II, § 203(b)(1), July 1, 1972, 86 Stat. 418; Pub. L. 92–603, title I, §§ 121(b), 124(b), 140(b), Oct. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 1353, 1357, 1366; Pub. L. 93–66, title II, § 203(b)(1), July 9, 1973, 87 Stat. 153; Pub. L. 93–233, § 5(b)(1), Dec. 31, 1973, 87 Stat. 954; Pub. L. 93–368, § 10(b), Aug. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 422; Pub. L. 94–92, title II, § 203(a), Aug. 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 465; Pub. L. 94–455, title XII, § 1207(e)(1)(B), title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(155), (b)(1)(I)(iii), (X), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1707, 1789, 1791, 1792, 1834; Pub. L. 95–216, title III, § 313(b), Dec. 20, 1977, 91 Stat. 1536; Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 703(j)(8), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2941; Pub. L. 95–615, § 202(g)(5), formerly § 202(f)(5), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3100, renumbered § 202(g)(5), Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 108(a)(1)(A), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 223; Pub. L. 97–34, title I, § 111(b)(3), (5), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 194; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 278(a)(2), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 559; Pub. L. 98–21, title I, § 124(c)(2), title III, §§ 321(e)(3), 322(b)(2), 323(b)(1), Apr. 20, 1983, 97 Stat. 90, 120, 121; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 102(c)(1), div. B, title VI, §§ 2603(c)(2), (d)(2), 2663(j)(5)(B), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 622, 1129, 1130, 1171; Pub. L. 99–272, title XIII, § 13205(a)(2)(B), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 315; Pub. L. 99–509, title IX, § 9002(b)(1)(B), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1971; Pub. L. 99–514, title III, § 301(b)(12), title XII, § 1272(d)(8), (9), title XVII, § 1704(a)(1), (2), title XVIII, §§ 1882(a), (b)(1), 1883(a)(11)(A), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2218, 2594, 2779, 2914, 2916; Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9022(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–295; Pub. L. 100–647, title III, § 3043(c)(1), title VIII, § 8007(c), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3642, 3783; Pub. L. 101–239, title X, § 10204(a)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2474; Pub. L. 101–508, title V, §§ 5123(a)(3), 5130(a)(2), title XI, § 11331(b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–284, 1388–289, 1388–467; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13207(b), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 468; Pub. L. 103–296, title I, § 108(h)(1), title III, § 319(a)(4), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1487, 1534; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1456(a), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1818; Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, § 922(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 879; Pub. L. 108–203, title IV, § 425(b), Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 536; Pub. L. 108–357, title I, § 102(d)(7), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1429; Pub. L. 110–28, title VIII, § 8215(b)(1), May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 193; Pub. L. 110–234, title XV, §§ 15301(a), 15352(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1501, 1525; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XV, §§ 15301(a), 15352(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2263, 2287; Pub. L. 111–148, title IX, § 9015(b)(2)(B), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 871; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(91), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4050; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(197), (198), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1193.)
Terms defined here
Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 1402
- § 1.1402(a)-1 Definition of net earnings from self-employment.
- § 1.1402(a)-2 Computation of net earnings from self-employment.
- § 1.1402(a)-3 Special rules for computing net earnings from self-employment.
- § 1.1402(a)-4 Rentals from real estate.
- § 1.1402(a)-5 Dividends and interest.
- § 1.1402(a)-6 Gain or loss from disposition of property.
- § 1.1402(a)-7 Net operating loss deduction.
- § 1.1402(a)-8 Community income.
- § 1.1402(a)-9 Puerto Rico.
- § 1.1402(a)-10 Personal exemption deduction.
- § 1.1402(a)-11 Ministers and members of religious orders.
- § 1.1402(a)-12 Continental shelf and certain possessions of the United States.
- § 1.1402(a)-13 Income from agricultural activity.
- § 1.1402(a)-14 Options available to farmers in computing net earnings from self-employment for taxable years ending after 1954 and before December 31, 1956.
- § 1.1402(a)-15 Options available to farmers in computing net earnings from self-employment for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 1956.
- § 1.1402(a)-16 Exercise of option.
- § 1.1402(a)-17 Retirement payments to retired partners.
- § 1.1402(a)-18 Split-dollar life insurance arrangements.
- § 1.1402(b)-1 Self-employment income.
- § 1.1402(c)-1 Trade or business.
- § 1.1402(c)-2 Public office.
- § 1.1402(c)-3 Employees.
- § 1.1402(c)-4 Individuals under Railroad Retirement System.
- § 1.1402(c)-5 Ministers and members of religious orders.
- § 1.1402(c)-6 Members of certain professions.
- § 1.1402(c)-7 Members of religious groups opposed to insurance.
- § 1.1402(d)-1 Employee and wages.
- § 1.1402(e)-1A Application of regulations under section 1402(e).
- § 1.1402(e)-2A Ministers, members of religious orders and Christian Science practitioners; application for exemption from self-employment tax.
- § 1.1402(e)-3A Time limitation for filing application for exemption.
- § 1.1402(e)-4A Period for which exemption is effective.
- § 1.1402(e)-5A Applications for exemption from self-employment taxes filed after December 31, 1986, by ministers, certain members of religious orders, and Christian Science practitioners.
- § 1.1402(e)(1)-1 Election by ministers, members of religious orders, and Christian Science practitioners for self-employment coverage.
- § 1.1402(e)(2)-1 Time limitation for filing waiver certificate.
- § 1.1402(e)(3)-1 Effective date of waiver certificate.
- § 1.1402(e)(4)-1 Treatment of certain remuneration paid in 1955 and 1956 as wages.
- § 1.1402(e)(5)-1 Optional provision for certain certificates filed before April 15, 1962.
- § 1.1402(e)(5)-2 Optional provisions for certain certificates filed on or before April 17, 1967.
- § 1.1402(e)(6)-1 Certificates filed by fiduciaries or survivors on or before April 15, 1962.
- § 1.1402(f)-1 Computation of partner's net earnings from self-employment for taxable year which ends as result of his death.
- § 1.1402(g)-1 Treatment of certain remuneration erroneously reported as net earnings from self-employment.
- § 1.1402(h)-1 Members of certain religious groups opposed to insurance.
From our articles, not part of the law
Articles that cite this section
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 22 other sections
- § 702(a)(8) Income and credits of partner
- § 631 Gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore
- § 172 Net operating loss deduction
- § 933 Income from sources within Puerto Rico
- § 151 Allowance of deductions for personal exemptions
- § 107 Rental value of parsonages
- § 119 Meals or lodging furnished for the convenience of the employer
- § 911 Citizens or residents of the United States living abroad
- § 414(e) Definitions and special rules
- § 931 Income from sources within Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands
- § 164(f) Taxes
- § 1401 Rate of tax
- § 707(c) Transactions between partner and partnership
- § 7873 Income derived by Indians from exercise of fishing rights
- § 199 Repealed
- § 761(f) Terms defined
- § 3121(g) Definitions
- § 3201 Rate of tax
- § 162 Trade or business expenses
- § 3231 Definitions
- § 3101 Rate of tax
- § 1256 Section 1256 contracts marked to market
Cited by 15 Code sections
- § 32(c)(2)(A)(ii) Earned income
- § 101(b) Certain death benefits
- § 162(l)(4) Trade or business expenses
- § 219(f)(1) Retirement savings
- § 401(c)(2)(A) Qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans
- § 408(p)(6)(A)(ii) Individual retirement accounts
- § 475(f)(1)(D) Mark to market accounting method for dealers in securities
- § 879(a)(2) Tax treatment of certain community income in the case of nonresident alien individuals
- § 2032A(e)(6) Valuation of certain farm, etc., real property
- § 3121(b)(7)(F)(v) Definitions
- § 3127(a)(1) Exemption for employers and their employees where both are members of religious faiths opposed to participation in Social Security Act programs
- § 5000A(d)(2)(A)(i)(I) Requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage
- § 6103(l)(7)(A) Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information
- § 6521(b) Mitigation of effect of limitation in case of related taxes under different chapters
- § 6654(d)(2)(C)(iii) Failure by individual to pay estimated income tax
Cited in 19 regulations not issued under it
- § 1.199A-1 Operational rules.
- § 1.401-10 Definitions relating to plans covering self-employed individuals.
- § 1.401(k)-4 SIMPLE 401(k) plan requirements.
- § 1.469-1T General rules (temporary).
- § 1.469-5T Material participation (temporary).
- § 1.702-3T 4-Year spread (temporary).
- § 1.1348-3 Definitions.
- § 1.1411-9 Exception for self-employment income.
- § 1.5000A-3 Exempt individuals.
- § 1.6017-1 Self-employment tax returns.
- § 1.6654-2 Exceptions to imposition of the addition to the tax in the case of individuals.
- § 20.2032A-3 Material participation requirements for valuation of certain farm and closely-held business real property.
- § 31.3121(b)(16)-1 Services performed under share-farming arrangement.
- § 31.3127-1 Exemption for employers and their employees if both are members of religious faiths opposed to participation in Social Security Act programs.
- § 301.6362-5 Qualified nonresident tax.
- § 301.6521-1 Mitigation of effect of limitation in case of related employee social security tax and self-employment tax.
- § 301.7705-1 Certified professional employer organization.
- § 301.9100-7T Time and manner of making certain elections under the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
- § 301.9100-8 Time and manner of making certain elections under the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988.
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (a)(1) (b)
- Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (e)(3)
- Amended by Pub. L. 111–148Parts changed in 2010: (a)(12)(B)
- Amended by Pub. L. 110–246Parts changed in 2008: (a) (a)(1) (l)
- Amended by Pub. L. 110–234
- Amended by Pub. L. 110–28Parts changed in 2007: (a)(17)
- Amended by Pub. L. 108–357Parts changed in 2004: (a)(5)(A) (a)(16)
- Amended by Pub. L. 108–203
- Amended by Pub. L. 105–34Parts changed in 1997: (k)
- Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (a)(8)
- Amended by Pub. L. 103–296Parts changed in 1994: (c)(1) (c)(2)(C) (c)(2)(E)
- Amended by Pub. L. 103–66Parts changed in 1993: (b) (b)(1) (k)
- Amended by Pub. L. 101–508Parts changed in 1990: (a) (b) (b)(1)(i) (k)
- Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (g)(3)
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (a)(15) (g)(2)
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–203Parts changed in 1987: (a)
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (a)(8) (a)(9) (a)(14) (b) (c)(2)(G) (e)(1) (e)(2) (g)(5) (i)(1) (j)
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–509
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–272
- Amended by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (a)(14) (c)(1) (c)(2)(G) (g)(1) (i)
- Amended by Pub. L. 98–21Parts changed in 1983: (a)(11) (a)(12) (b)
- Amended by Pub. L. 97–248Parts changed in 1982: (b)
- Amended by Pub. L. 97–34Parts changed in 1981: (a)(8) (a)(11)
- Amended by Pub. L. 96–222
- Amended by Pub. L. 95–615Parts changed in 1978: (a) (c)(6)
- Amended by Pub. L. 95–600
- Amended by Pub. L. 95–216Parts changed in 1977: (a)(12)
- Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (a) (b)(1) (c)(2)(F) (g) (h)
- Amended by Pub. L. 94–92Parts changed in 1975: (b)
- Amended by Pub. L. 93–368Parts changed in 1974: (a)(1)
- Amended by Pub. L. 93–233Parts changed in 1973: (b)(1)(H)
- Amended by Pub. L. 93–66
- Amended by Pub. L. 92–603Parts changed in 1972: (a)(8) (b)(1)(F) (b)(1)(G) (i)
- Amended by Pub. L. 92–336
- Amended by Pub. L. 92–5Parts changed in 1971: (b)(1)(E) (b)(1)(F)
- Amended by Pub. L. 90–248Parts changed in 1968: (a)(10) (b) (b)(1)(D) (b)(1)(E) (c) (c)(1) (c)(2)(E) (e) (h)(2)
- Amended by Pub. L. 89–368Parts changed in 1966: (e)(3)(E)
- Amended by Pub. L. 89–97Parts changed in 1965: (a) (b)(1)(C) (b)(1)(D) (c) (e)(1) (e)(2)(A) (e)(2)(B) (e)(3)(D) (e)(5) (e)(6) (h)
- Amended by Pub. L. 88–650Parts changed in 1964: (a)(3)(B) (e)(2)(B) (e)(3)(C)
- Amended by Pub. L. 88–272
- Amended by Pub. L. 87–64Parts changed in 1961: (e)(6)
- Amended by Pub. L. 86–778Parts changed in 1960: (a) (b) (c)(2) (e)(2)(B) (e)(3) (e)(5) (g)
- Amended by Pub. L. 85–840Parts changed in 1958: (b)(1) (f)
- Enacted by Pub. L. 85–239Parts changed in 1957: (a)(8) (e)(2) (e)(3) (e)(4)
Where it sits in the Code
Nearby sections
- § 1401 Rate of tax
- § 1402 Definitions
- § 1403 Miscellaneous provisions
Official notes
The Law Revision Counsel's notes for this section (amendments, effective dates and related laws) are long, so they have their own page.