FICA Tax Calculator
Calculate FICA taxes—the combined Social Security and Medicare taxes that fund retirement and healthcare benefits. Every wage earner pays FICA on earned income.
FICA Tax Rates (2024)
| Component | Employee Rate | Employer Rate | Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | 6.2% | 12.4% |
| Medicare | 1.45% | 1.45% | 2.9% |
| Total FICA | 7.65% | 7.65% | 15.3% |
FICA Wage Limits
| Tax | Wage Base | Maximum Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | $168,600 (2024) | $10,453.20 |
| Medicare | No limit | No maximum |
| Additional Medicare | Over $200k | +0.9% (employee only) |
FICA Tax Calculator
``javascript
function calculateFICATax(wages, isSelfEmployed = false) {
const ssWageBase = 168600;
const ssRate = isSelfEmployed ? 0.124 : 0.062;
const medicareRate = isSelfEmployed ? 0.029 : 0.0145;
const additionalMedicareThreshold = 200000;
// Social Security (capped at wage base)
const ssWages = Math.min(wages, ssWageBase);
const socialSecurityTax = ssWages * ssRate;
// Medicare (no cap)
const medicareTax = wages * medicareRate;
// Additional Medicare Tax (employee pays, not matched)
const additionalMedicare = isSelfEmployed
? Math.max(0, wages - additionalMedicareThreshold) * 0.009
: Math.max(0, wages - additionalMedicareThreshold) * 0.009;
const totalFICA = socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + additionalMedicare;
return {
wages,
socialSecurityTax: socialSecurityTax.toFixed(2),
medicareTax: medicareTax.toFixed(2),
additionalMedicare: additionalMedicare.toFixed(2),
totalFICA: totalFICA.toFixed(2),
effectiveRate: ((totalFICA / wages) * 100).toFixed(2) + '%'
};
}
``
FICA Examples
| Wages | SS Tax | Medicare | Total FICA |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,100 | $725 | $3,825 |
| $100,000 | $6,200 | $1,450 | $7,650 |
| $168,600 | $10,453 | $2,445 | $12,898 |
| $250,000 | $10,453 | $4,075 | $14,528 |