Does the deduction for net earnings from self employment exempt self-employed individuals from taxation under the MBT?
No. The MBT is comprised of the business income tax and the modified gross receipts tax. MCL 208.1201; MCL 208.1203. The business income tax taxes “that part of federal taxable income derived from business activity.” MCL 208.1105(2). The modified gross receipts tax is levied on a taxpayer’s gross receipts less purchases from other firms, a defined term. MCL 208.1203(3). The deduction for net earnings from self employment is taken from the business income tax base and does not affect the modified gross receipts tax base. Further, the deduction is not an exemption from the business income tax base. MCL 208.1201(2)(h) permits a deduction, to the extent included in federal taxable income, for net earnings from self-employment as defined under section 1402 of the internal revenue code of the taxpayer or a partner or limited liability company member of the taxpayer except to the extent that those net earnings represent a reasonable return on capital. [Emphasis added]. IRC 1402 defines net ea
