Social Security tax calculator
Enter annual wages to see what the employee side of FICA takes: 6.2% for Social Security up to the 184500 wage base, 1.45% Medicare with no cap, and the 0.9% Additional Medicare withholding above 200000. For income-tax withholding, use the federal withholding calculator.
The three lines on a FICA estimate
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to 184500 in 2026. Wages above the base carry no employee Social Security tax, which is why the deduction disappears from late-year pay stubs for higher earners.
Medicare is 1.45% of every wage dollar with no ceiling. There is no wage base and no refund of it.
Additional Medicare withholding is 0.9% on wages above 200000 paid in the year. Employers start withholding there regardless of filing status; the return-side thresholds are 200000 for single and 250000 for married filing jointly (irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751).
This page prices the employee side only. Employer-side Social Security and Medicare are separate taxes the employer pays and never deduct from wages.
Common questions
Why does Social Security tax stop partway through the year?
The 6.2% employee rate applies only to wages up to the annual taxable wage base, 184500 dollars for 2026. Once your year-to-date Social Security wages pass that figure, the 6.2% deduction stops. Medicare has no such cap.
Do I get the money my employer matches?
Your employer pays a matching 6.2% on the same wage base. That employer share is never deducted from your paycheck, so this page prices only the employee side. Combined, 12.4% goes to Social Security on wages under the base.
What is the extra Medicare amount on my pay stub?
Employers must withhold an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages paid above 200000 dollars in a calendar year, without regard to filing status (IRS Publication 15, Tax Topic 751). Your final liability threshold on the return is 200000 single or 250000 married filing jointly, so some filers reconcile at tax time.