How much can Ondine deduct from her self-employment tax when filing her income tax return?

The correct deductibility related to self-employment tax for individuals, such as Ondine, involves her ability to deduct a portion of the self-employment tax when calculating her adjusted gross income on her income tax return. Specifically, self-employed individuals can deduct the employer-equivalent portion of their self-employment tax, which is 50% of the self-employment tax owed.

Assuming that Ondine's self-employment tax calculation leads to a figure that allows her to deduct $1,000, this aligns with the rules established by the IRS. The self-employment tax is intended to cover Social Security and Medicare taxes, which are typically split between an employer and an employee, but as a self-employed individual, she is responsible for the entire amount. Thus, being able to deduct half of that tax helps effectively reduce her taxable income.

In this context, the deduction is specifically set at a standard recognized amount, which is likely to confirm that $1,000 is an appropriate deduction based on typical self-employment tax calculations. This allows self-employed individuals like Ondine to lessen their tax burden, reflecting a key principle of encouraging entrepreneurship.