What Is FICA Tax and How Is It Calculated?
FICA tax is the US federal payroll tax, established by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, that funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 7.65% of wages (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare), and the employer pays a matching 7.65%.
The FICA formula is: FICA = (min(W, B) × 6.2%) + (W × 1.45%) + (max(0, W − T) × 0.9%), where W is annual wages, B is the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026), and T is the Additional Medicare Tax threshold for your filing status. The 0.9% surtax was added by the Affordable Care Act in 2013.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the 2026 wage base rose to $184,500 from $176,100 in 2025, so the maximum Social Security tax an employee pays is $11,439. The IRS applies the Additional Medicare Tax to wages above $200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for married couples filing jointly, and $125,000 for married filing separately.
How to Use This FICA Tax Calculator
Choose Employee or Self-Employed, enter your income, and the results update instantly. Here is what each field means:
- Employee (W-2): Enter annual gross wages before tax. The calculator shows your share and the employer match.
- Self-Employed: Enter net profit from Schedule C. The calculator applies the 92.35% adjustment and both halves of the tax (15.3%).
- Filing status: Sets the threshold at which the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax begins. Employers withhold it at $200,000 regardless of status; any difference is reconciled on Form 8959.
FICA is a US-only tax. Other countries use similar schemes under different names, such as National Insurance in the UK and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) in Canada, with different rates and ceilings, so this calculator should not be used for them.
FICA Tax Rates and Limits for 2026
| Tax | Employee | Employer | Self-employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (up to $184,500) | 6.2% | 6.2% | 12.4% |
| Medicare (no cap) | 1.45% | 1.45% | 2.9% |
| Additional Medicare (over threshold) | 0.9% | None | 0.9% |
| Base total | 7.65% | 7.65% | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FICA tax rate for 2026?
The 2026 FICA rate is 7.65% for employees: 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Employers pay a matching 7.65%, so the combined rate is 15.3%. High earners also owe a 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax.
How much FICA tax will I pay on $75,000?
On $75,000 of wages, an employee pays $4,650 in Social Security tax (6.2%) and $1,087.50 in Medicare tax (1.45%), a total of $5,737.50 or 7.65%. The employer pays an identical $5,737.50 on top.
Do I pay FICA tax on all of my income?
No. Social Security tax stops once your wages pass the annual wage base, which is $184,500 in 2026, so the most an employee pays is $11,439. Medicare tax has no cap and applies to every dollar of wages.
What is the difference between FICA and self-employment tax?
FICA is split between employee and employer at 7.65% each. Self-employed people pay both halves, 15.3%, as self-employment tax on 92.35% of net profit. They can deduct half of that tax when calculating adjusted gross income.