I teach school for 40 grand a year before taxes.

[Ms. Toad]

58. I was quite surprised

that the people reviewing his returns indicated that he had no earned income in 2011. The statements haven't been as clear about 2010 - but they seem to indicate the same thing.

There are a couple of possibilities : He has Schedule C income (which would be subject to SS taxes - and the income shows up about halfway down the form, rather than on the top line which is what one reviewer said was blank); he has set up a corporation to handle his speaking engagements and earns dividends as a corporate shareholder - rather than a salary (it has been a long time since I looked at taxation of the various corporate entities, but I believe he could set it up so that money from speaking becomes something other than earned income).

But as far as the tax reported - line 55 (the income tax line) does not include FICA self employment taxes. That contributes to line 61, which includes a bunch of other taxes - including the employer's share of FICA taxes on household help, for example. I'm pretty sure it is line 55 which is being reported for Romney - but, again, all I'm finding is the analysis not the actual return - so no way to be absolutely sure.