Question Are partners considered employees of a partnership or are they considered self-employed? Answer Partners in a partnership (including members of a limited liability company (LLC) or other entity that is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes) are considered to be self-employed, not employees, when performing services for the partnership. If you do not qualify as a limited partner of a partnership that carries on a trade or business, your net earnings from self-employment include your distributive share of ordinary business income or loss. You must also include guaranteed payments as net earnings from self-employment. If you qualify as a limited partner of a partnership that carries on a trade or business, only guaranteed payments for services you rendered to, or on behalf of, the partnership are net earnings from self-employment. Limited partners don't pay self-employment tax on their distributive share of partnership income, but do pay self-employment tax on guaranteed payments. Additional Information Instructions for Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income Publication 541, Partnerships Publication 3402, Taxation of Limited Liability Companies Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C) Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax Category Small business, self-employed, other business Sub-Category Entities