What is FICA?

Answer 1

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contribution (tax) Act. You and your employer both contribute a percentage of your income to this tax which is attributed to Social Security and Medicare. Social security is the governmental fund that provides income to retirees, disability, etc. Medicare provides medical insurance coverage to persons over age 65.

As of the new law passed in Dec 2010:

The tax is payable on the first $106,800 of earnings. Earning are defined slightly differently for this than what is used for withholding, (or other things). Additionally, a portion of what was a total of 15.3% tax equally paid between employer & employee - or entirely by self employed (half employer paid, half employee), is dedicated to Medicare and has no maximum earnings limit.

HOWEVER:

Under current law, employees pay a 6.2% Social Security tax on all wages earned up to $106,800 (in 2011) and self-employed individuals pay 12.4% Social Security self-employment taxes on all their self-employment income up to the same threshold.

For 2011, the Senate passed 2010 Tax Reform Act gives a two-percentage-point payroll/self-employment tax holiday for employees and self-employeds. As a result, employees will pay only 4.2% Social Security tax on wages and self-employment individuals will pay only 10.4% Social Security self-employment taxes on self-employment income up to the threshold.

The maximum savings for 2011 will be $2,136 (2% of $106,800).

The amount paid by the employer will not change and will be that same 2% more than the employee.

Answer 2

FICA stand for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is a Tax that provides Medicare and social security benefits.

Answer 3

FICA is the Social Security Tax as listed on your pay check and deducted from your gross income. It is taxes at a rate of 6.2% of your income and your employer pays another 6.2% as well.