FICA Tax 2026: Social Security and Medicare Explained
The 2026 FICA rates
| Component | Employee rate | Wage base |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security (OASDI) | 6.20% | First $184,500; stops above that |
| Medicare (HI) | 1.45% | All wages, no ceiling |
| Additional Medicare | 0.90% | Wages above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married) |
| Total (below SS wage base) | 7.65% |
FICA at key incomes (2026)
| Annual wages | Social Security | Medicare | Total FICA |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,100 | $725 | $3,825 |
| $100,000 | $6,200 | $1,450 | $7,650 |
| $150,000 | $9,300 | $2,175 | $11,475 |
| $184,500 | $11,439 | $2,675 | $14,114 |
| $250,000 | $11,439 | $4,075 | $15,514 |
Social Security contributions stop once your wages reach $184,500. An employee earning $250,000 pays the same $11,439 in Social Security as one earning $184,500; the additional income is subject only to the Medicare components.
The Social Security wage base
The Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026) is adjusted each year for wage growth. It was $168,600 in 2024 and $176,100 in 2025. Once your year-to-date wages reach the cap, your employer stops withholding the 6.2% Social Security tax. If you switch jobs mid-year, each employer withholds from zero and you may overpay; claim the excess on your federal tax return (Schedule 3, line 11).
Additional Medicare Tax
The Additional Medicare Tax of 0.90% applies to wages above $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married filing jointly. Unlike regular Medicare, employers are required to withhold it only once your wages from that employer alone exceed $200,000, regardless of filing status. If your combined wages from multiple jobs exceed the threshold, the reconciliation happens on your tax return (Form 8959).
Self-employed workers pay both halves
Employees pay 7.65% FICA and their employer matches it. Self-employed workers pay both halves at 15.3% (12.4% SS + 2.9% Medicare) on net self-employment income up to the SS wage base, plus 2.9% above. This is called the Self-Employment tax (Schedule SE). Half of the SE tax is deductible as an above-the-line adjustment on the federal return, which partially offsets the higher burden.
Frequently asked questions
Does my employer pay FICA too?
Yes. Employers match the employee Social Security rate of 6.2% and the Medicare rate of 1.45% exactly. The employer does not match the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax. So for every dollar of FICA you pay, your employer pays the same amount of Social Security and Medicare tax on your behalf (up to the wage base), making the total Social Security contribution 12.4% and total Medicare 2.9%.
What does FICA actually fund?
Social Security (OASDI) funds retirement benefits, disability insurance and survivor benefits. Medicare funds hospital insurance (Part A) for people aged 65 and over and for certain disabled individuals. The programs are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis: today's workers pay for today's beneficiaries.
Is FICA deductible on my tax return?
The employee share of FICA is not deductible on a federal income tax return. However, if you are self-employed and pay both the employee and employer halves of FICA through self-employment tax, you can deduct half of the self-employment tax from your gross income (not as an itemized deduction but as an above-the-line adjustment on Schedule 1).
Source: IRS Publication 15 (Circular E) 2026; SSA 2026 wage base announcement. Last updated 2026-11-04.