FullCalculator

FICA Tax Calculator

Employee FICA Tax

Calculate employee-side FICA taxes (Social Security + Medicare)

$

Self-Employment FICA Tax

Calculate self-employment tax (both employer and employee portions)

$

Formula

Employee FICA = (min(wages, $168,600) x 6.2%) + (wages x 1.45%) + (max(0, wages - threshold) x 0.9%)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FICA tax and who pays it?
FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 7.65% (6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare) and employers match it. Self-employed individuals pay both halves (15.3%).
What is the additional Medicare tax?
An extra 0.9% Medicare tax applies to wages exceeding $200,000 (single), $250,000 (married filing jointly), or $125,000 (married filing separately). Only employees pay this—employers do not match it.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2024?
The Social Security wage base for 2024 is $168,600. Only earnings up to this amount are subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax. All earnings are subject to Medicare tax with no cap.

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