No, the credit claimed for the side business can only offset income from the side business, and only if your side business is incorporated (but S corporations count).

I am not an accountant.

You may use a loss from a side business in order to offset W-2 income. No need for complicated tax credit forms. Look into the IRS rules around hobbies as they may get suspicious if your "business" loses money for years on end.

Not an accountant, but the article states is applies against the business's social security taxes:

> Beginning in 2017, qualified small businesses may claim up to $250,000 per fiscal year, applying it against their Social Security taxes.

No, unfortunately you can't.