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
How to use this calculator
- Enter the filing status, income, deduction, credit, withholding, and other fields that apply to your situation.
- Run the calculator and review the tax estimate, rate, deduction, or planning result shown on the page.
- Compare the result with IRS forms, state rules, and your own records before making payment or filing decisions.
FICA Tax Calculator 2026
Use this fica tax calculator, fica calculator, fica tax rate calculator, fica tax cal, fica calcultator, or fica tax calcultor to estimate Social Security and Medicare payroll tax. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare is 1.45% on wages with no wage cap. Employers generally match the 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare portions.
The fica calculation 2026 and fica calculation formula 2026 are: Social Security tax = wages up to the wage base × 6.2%; Medicare tax = all Medicare wages × 1.45%; Additional Medicare Tax may apply to high earners.
Medicare FICA Tax Calculator
Use medicare fica tax calculator for wages above the Additional Medicare Tax thresholds. The extra 0.9% applies to wages above $200,000 for single/head of household and other taxpayers, $250,000 for married filing jointly, and $125,000 for married filing separately. There is no employer match for that extra 0.9%.
For which is the medicare and fica taxes for a salary of 330000usd, a single filer estimate is Social Security on the first $184,500, Medicare 1.45% on $330,000, plus 0.9% on $130,000 above the $200,000 threshold. This page estimates payroll tax only; a fica and federal income tax calculator would also need income tax withholding inputs.
If the question is what is fica tax calculator or calculate fica tax, read the result as a payroll-tax estimate, not total federal tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
FICA tax calculator 2026 paycheck?
Start with the key tax inputs and keep each number easy to verify. For the FICA Tax Calculator, start with wages, pay period, employer/employee status, bonus pay, Social Security wage base already used, and Medicare threshold details. Then use: employee FICA = Social Security tax up to the wage base + Medicare tax on all wages + any Additional Medicare Tax. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, while Medicare is generally 1.45% on wages. Read the result as employee withholding and employer payroll tax estimate. High earners may also see the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
How much FICA tax comes out of my paycheck?
Separate each tax component so the estimate stays readable and easier to check. The FICA Tax Calculator works best when you enter wages, pay period, employer/employee status, bonus pay, Social Security wage base already used, and Medicare threshold details. The planning formula is employee FICA = Social Security tax up to the wage base + Medicare tax on all wages + any Additional Medicare Tax. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, while Medicare is generally 1.45% on wages. Use the final number for employee withholding and employer payroll tax estimate. High earners may also see the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
Social security and Medicare tax calculator?
Use this as a planning estimate, then reconcile it with the actual tax forms. Enter wages, pay period, employer/employee status, bonus pay, Social Security wage base already used, and Medicare threshold details in the FICA Tax Calculator. A practical formula is: employee FICA = Social Security tax up to the wage base + Medicare tax on all wages + any Additional Medicare Tax. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, while Medicare is generally 1.45% on wages. Review employee withholding and employer payroll tax estimate. High earners may also see the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
FICA tax on bonus calculator?
Use the calculator for a working estimate instead of relying on a rough guess. For the FICA Tax Calculator, start with wages, pay period, employer/employee status, bonus pay, Social Security wage base already used, and Medicare threshold details. Then use: employee FICA = Social Security tax up to the wage base + Medicare tax on all wages + any Additional Medicare Tax. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, while Medicare is generally 1.45% on wages. Read the result as employee withholding and employer payroll tax estimate. High earners may also see the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
Calculate employer FICA tax for payroll?
Keep the inputs practical for this estimate. The main rule is that FICA funds Social Security and Medicare, with Social Security capped by the annual wage base and Medicare continuing without a wage cap. For the FICA Tax Calculator, use wages, pay period, employer/employee status, bonus pay, Social Security wage base already used, and Medicare threshold details and review employee withholding and employer payroll tax estimate. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, while Medicare is generally 1.45% on wages. High earners may also see the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
What wages are subject to FICA tax?
Most wages are subject to FICA, including regular pay, bonuses, overtime, and many taxable fringe benefits. Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals may reduce federal income taxable wages, but they usually do not reduce Social Security or Medicare wages. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare is generally 1.45% with no wage cap. High earners may also owe Additional Medicare Tax.
FICA tax calculator for high earners?
Separate each tax component so the estimate stays readable and easier to check. For the FICA Tax Calculator, start with wages, pay period, employer/employee status, bonus pay, Social Security wage base already used, and Medicare threshold details. Then use: employee FICA = Social Security tax up to the wage base + Medicare tax on all wages + any Additional Medicare Tax. For 2026, Social Security is 6.2% for employees up to the $184,500 wage base, while Medicare is generally 1.45% on wages. Read the result as employee withholding and employer payroll tax estimate. High earners may also see the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
Use Cases
- Estimate your per-paycheck FICA deductions before starting a new job or after a raise.
- Verify that your employer is withholding the correct Social Security and Medicare amounts on your pay stub.
- Plan for the Social Security wage base cap and understand when SS withholding stops during the year.
- Compare total payroll tax costs (employee + employer) when evaluating W-2 employment versus self-employment.
- Calculate combined FICA obligations for budgeting purposes if you are an employer processing payroll.
Assumptions & Limitations
- This calculator uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 and standard FICA rates (6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare).
- The Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) on wages above $200,000 is not included here; use our dedicated Additional Medicare calculator for that.
- Results assume all income is W-2 wages. Self-employment income uses different rules (see the Self-Employment Tax calculator).
- Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, FSA) may reduce FICA-taxable wages. This calculator does not account for those reductions.
- State-level payroll taxes (such as state disability insurance) are not included in this calculation.
- This tool provides estimates for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional tax advice.
Sources & References
- IRS Publication 15 (Circular E) – Employer's Tax Guide
- IRS Topic No. 751 – Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates
- SSA – Contribution and Benefit Base (OASDI Wage Base)
- 26 U.S. Code § 3101 – Rate of Tax (Employee FICA)
- 26 U.S. Code § 3111 – Rate of Tax (Employer FICA)
- IRS Topic No. 756 – Employment Taxes for Household Employees
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Tax laws change frequently. Always consult IRS publications or a qualified tax professional for your specific situation.