FINANCIAL · PAYROLL TAX

Payroll Tax Calculator

Calculate employee and employer FICA payroll taxes — Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) — for W-2 employees and self-employed individuals. Uses 2026 rates.

Income & Status
02 Result
Total Employee FICA
$5,737.50
Effective rate: 7.65%
SS wages (capped)$75,000.00
Employee SS tax (6.2%)$4,650.00
Employee Medicare (1.45%)$1,087.50
Employer SS tax (6.2%)$4,650.00
Employer Medicare (1.45%)$1,087.50
Total employer FICA$5,737.50
Combined (employee + employer)$11,475.00

About This Calculator

Calculate exactly how much FICA (Social Security + Medicare) payroll tax is owed — from both the employee and employer side. Enter your annual wages to see the breakdown by component, including the Additional Medicare Tax that applies above $200,000 ($250,000 for Married Filing Jointly). Uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.

How It Works

Social Security tax is 6.2% for employee and 6.2% for employer, applied to wages up to the annual wage base ($184,500 in 2026). Medicare is 1.45% each (no cap). An Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies to employee wages above the filing-status threshold ($200,000 for single filers; $250,000 for MFJ) — this is an employee-only tax. Self-employed individuals pay both halves (15.3% combined below the SS wage base) on 92.35% of net earnings, and may deduct the employer half from gross income.

The Formula

Employee FICA = SS(6.2%) + Medicare(1.45%) + AddlMedicare(0.9% if applicable)

SS Wage Base
$184,500 for 2026 — wages above this are SS-exempt
Medicare threshold
$200,000 (single/MFS/HoH), $250,000 (MFJ) — triggers 0.9% additional tax
SE factor
0.9235 — self-employed net earnings multiplier per Schedule SE

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I pay 6.2% Social Security while my employer also pays 6.2%?
FICA is a shared tax. The employee contributes 6.2% from their paycheck; the employer contributes an identical 6.2% on top of the wages paid. Together they fund Social Security. From a total-compensation perspective, the employer's share is often considered part of your compensation that goes directly to taxes rather than to your paycheck.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax and who pays it?
The Additional Medicare Tax (ACA § 1401(a)) is 0.9% on Medicare wages above $200,000 (single, MFS, HoH) or $250,000 (MFJ). It is an employee-only tax — employers do not pay the employer matching portion on this extra 0.9%. If you expect to owe it, ask your employer to withhold extra, or make estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties.
Does the employer match the Additional Medicare Tax?
No. The employer only matches the standard 1.45% Medicare rate. The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax is employee-only and has no employer match.
I'm self-employed. How does my payroll tax differ?
Self-employed individuals pay both the employee and employer halves (called Self-Employment Tax on Schedule SE). The combined SE rate is 15.3% on SS wages (12.4% SS + 2.9% Medicare) and 2.9% on wages above the SS base. The tax applies to 92.35% of net self-employment earnings (to approximate what an employee would earn after the employer's half). You can then deduct 50% of the SE tax from gross income on Schedule 1.
What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?
The 2026 SS wage base is $184,500 (up from $176,100 in 2025). Wages and net SE earnings above this limit are exempt from the 6.2% SS rate; Medicare tax continues with no cap.