Self employment tax

Hi all. I realize I can ask for a cert of compliance from dwp to avoid irs self employment tax, but i have 39 credits for social security in the us. Is the easiest way to pay self emp tax and bump up credits (I earn very little so it should be under $500) or is there a better way. Thanks!

Hi all. I realize I can ask for a cert of compliance from dwp to avoid irs self employment tax, but i have 39 credits for social security in the us. Is the easiest way to pay self emp tax and bump up credits (I earn very little so it should be under $500) or is there a better way. Thanks!

I was looking at doing the same so as to reduce WEP. I can see nothing out there that would prevent you paying to both DWP and the IRS so as to credit in both countries. Again, I see nothing that compels you to ask for a certificate of compliance.

We do this for my wife. She has a small self-employed business in the UK, and the Social Security credits are worth the tax, barring massive changes in Social Security rules in the future. Pretty clearly worth it to get to 40 credits, and even past that up to the 90% bend point. After that, less clear cut, have to run the numbers for your own situation.

Ah great - thanks for this. Probably a silly question but what is the "bend point" and what useful calculations should I be doing? I am, as you can tell, very new to this