FICA Tax Rates and Wage Limits by Year (1997-2012)
To determine the gross pay subject to social security tax withholding, up to the wage base limit, you must first add any taxable fringe benefit amounts and taxable employer-paid deductions. From that taxable gross total, then subtract any Before-Tax Employee Insurance Benefits, parking deductions, and Health Care or Dependent Daycare Reimbursement deductions. The remainder is your social security taxable gross.
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FICA Yearly Limits |
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Year |
Annual Social Security Wage Base Limit |
Social Security Tax Rate |
Maximum Annual Social Security Tax Withholding |
Annual Medicare Wage Base |
Medicare Tax Rate |
| 2012 | $110,100 | 4.2% | $4,624.20 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2011 | $106,800 | 4.2% | $4,485.60 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2010 | $106,800 | 6.2% | $6,621.60 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2009 | $106,800 | 6.2% | $6,621.60 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2008 | $102,000 | 6.2% | $6,324.00 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2007 | $97,500 | 6.2% | $6,045.00 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2006 | $94,200 | 6.2% | $5,840.40 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2005 | $90,000 | 6.2% | $5,580.00 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2004 | $87,900 | 6.2% | $5,449.80 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2003 | $87,000 | 6.2% | $5,394.00 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2002 | $84,900 | 6.2% | $5,263.80 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2001 | $80,400 | 6.2% | $4,984.80 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 2000 | $76,200 | 6.2% | $4,724.40 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 1999 | $72,600 | 6.2% | $4,501.20 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 1998 | $68,400 | 6.2% | $4,240.80 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
| 1997 | $65,400 | 6.2% | $4,054.80 | No annual limit | 1.45% |
For 2012, the maximum taxable earnings amount for Social Security (OASDI) taxes is $110,100. There is no limitation on taxable earnings for Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) taxes.
Employer/Employer FICA
The Social Security tax rate for e
mployees is 4.2 percent through the end of the year
The Social Secu
Self-Employment FICA
rity tax rate for employers is 6.2 percent
The Medicare tax rate is 1.45 percent for employees and employers
The Social Security tax rate for self-employed is 10.4 percent through the end of the year. The Medicare tax rate is 2.9 percent for self-employed.
