What is the Formula for Payroll Taxes?

Federal payroll taxes, also known as FICA taxes, are charged on earned income. The amount you pay depends on whether you are self-employed or an employee.

  1. Total Tax Rate

    • The total tax rate is 15.3 percent. If you are self-employed, you pay the entire amount yourself. If you are an employee, you split the payroll taxes with your employer, so you each pay 7.65 percent.

    What Makes Up Payroll Taxes?

    • Payroll taxes are made up of a Social Security tax of 12.4 percent and a Medicare tax of 2.9 percent.

    Limits

    • The Social Security payroll tax only applies to the first $106,800 for 2010. The Medicare tax applies to all of your earned income.

    Significance

    • Payroll taxes are separate from your federal income taxes. Payroll taxes go directly to funding Social Security and Medicare.

    Considerations

    • If you are self-employed, you can deduct half of your payroll taxes from your taxable income as an adjustment to income, also known as an above-the-line deduction.

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