The Federal Insurance Contributions Act, more often referred to by its full name, the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, is a federal legislation that mandates businesses deduct and send in a certain percentage of an employee's salary to contribute to Social Security and Medicare. The entire cost of the meal is divided between the employee and the employer, with each party responsible for paying one-half of the tab. What is FICA tax how it works for employer's?
How FICA Taxes Work
Your entire wages are subject to 15.3 percent in Social Security and Medicare taxes, which together comprise FICA taxes. You are accountable for 7.65% of the entire amount due, including a Social Security tax of 6.2% and a Medicare tax of 1.45%, which is applied to the profits you bring in.
You will notice these deductions on your paycheck because FICA taxes are a sort of payroll tax that your employer must withdraw from your salary. The element of FICA that pertains to Social Security is sometimes referred to as "OSADI," which is an abbreviation for the "old-age, survivors, and disability insurance" tax. The portion dealing with hospital insurance is often referred to as the Medicare tax.
FICA Tax Rates and Limits
In 2022, Social Security tax will only apply to the first $147,000 of your wages, regardless of how much money you make. This will increase to a total of $160,200 in 2023. Those who have an annual income of more than $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (joint filers) are subject to a Medicare surtax of 0.9% in addition to the usual 1.45% tax (joint filers). Additionally, the payment of half of the entire FICA duty falls on the shoulders of your employer.
What Is Withholding Tax?
A payer, generally an employer, is responsible for paying an income tax known as a withholding tax on behalf of a payee (typically an employee). The tax is taken out of the payee's paycheck by the payer, who is also referred to as the "withholder." One sort of withholding tax is known as the FICA tax.
Other aspects of PAYROLL taxes that you may have heard about
FUTA tax
The Federal Unemployment Tax Act is what this abbreviation stands for. People who have lost their jobs are eligible to receive unemployment compensation from a tax-funded government program. Employees are exempt from paying this tax and will not have it taken out of their paychecks. Employers pay for it.
SUTA tax
The same basic concept as FUTA; however, the money goes toward supporting a state program. The employers pay the tax.
Tax on Self-Employment Income
If you are self-employed, you may be responsible for paying additional taxes, known as self-employment taxes. These taxes are virtually equivalent to paying the entire amount of Social Security and Medicare taxes. This is because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) charges a Social Security tax of 12.4% and a Medicare tax of 2.9% on net earnings. In most cases, workers and their employers divide this benefit's cost, which is why employees had 6.2% and 1.45% of their paychecks withheld, respectively. However, self-employed persons are responsible for paying for everything themselves. Due to the possibility that you will not be getting a regular paycheck, you may be required to file estimated quarterly taxes instead of having them withheld from your salary.
Why Am I Required To Make FICA Tax Payments?
Because taxes in the United States are collected on a pay-as-you-go basis, employers must deduct taxes, including FICA taxes, from their employees' paychecks. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants its share of your earnings as soon as feasible after you make money.
Some persons have the option not to have any federal income tax deducted from their paychecks, and these individuals are referred to as "exempt employees." Nevertheless, Social Security and Medicare taxes will continue to be deducted from their paychecks. In most cases, the only circumstances under which you are free from tax withholding are the following two:
- You had no tax obligation from the previous year; therefore, the federal income tax deducted from your paycheck was refunded to you.
- You are anticipating that the same thing will place this year.
