FICA Tax Calculator
Calculate Social Security and Medicare taxes on your wages. FICA taxes fund Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare health coverage.
📅 Tax Year:
Calculate FICA Tax
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How It Works
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund two programs:
Social Security Tax
- Rate: 6.2% employee + 6.2% employer = 12.4% total
- 2026 Wage Base: $184,500 (only wages up to this amount are taxed)
- Maximum SS Tax: $11,439 per year (employee portion)
Medicare Tax
- Rate: 1.45% employee + 1.45% employer = 2.9% total
- No wage cap (all wages are taxed)
- Additional 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (see Additional Medicare calculator)
Formula
SS Tax = min(Wages, $184,500) × 6.2% Medicare Tax = Wages × 1.45% Total FICA = SS Tax + Medicare Tax
Examples
Example 1: $80,000 Wages
- SS: $80,000 × 6.2% = $4,960
- Medicare: $80,000 × 1.45% = $1,160
- Total: $6,120
Example 2: $200,000 Wages (Above SS Cap)
- SS: $184,500 × 6.2% = $11,439 (capped)
- Medicare: $200,000 × 1.45% = $2,900
- Total: $14,339
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SS wage base for 2026?
For 2026, the Social Security wage base is $184,500. Wages above
this amount are not subject to SS tax, though they still pay Medicare tax.
Does my employer pay the same amount?
Yes, employers pay matching FICA taxes. Your 6.2% SS + 1.45%
Medicare is matched by your employer, making the combined rate 15.3%.
What about self-employed individuals?
Self-employed individuals pay both portions (15.3% total) as
self-employment tax. Half is deductible. Use our Self-Employment Tax calculator.
Is FICA tax refundable?
Generally no. However, if you had multiple employers and total wages
exceeded the SS wage base, you may claim excess SS withheld as a credit.
What is Additional Medicare Tax?
An extra 0.9% applies to wages over $200,000 (single), $250,000
(MFJ), or $125,000 (MFS). This is employee-only; employers don't match it.
Are FICA taxes deductible?
Employee FICA taxes are not deductible on your federal return.
Self-employed individuals can deduct half of SE tax as an adjustment to income.