Payroll
FICA (Social Security & Medicare Tax)
Federal payroll taxes funding Social Security and Medicare — split between employer and employee.
FICA combines Social Security tax (6.2% on wages up to ~$168,600 in 2024) and Medicare tax (1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% additional Medicare tax on wages over $200K single / $250K married). Both employer and employee contribute matching amounts.
Self-employed individuals pay both halves themselves via self-employment tax — the same 15.3% combined rate.
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