Social Security And Medicare Tax Rate

The growth of the Social Security wage cap from $118,500 in 2016 to 142,800 in 2021 represents more than a 20 percent increase over the past five years. The Social Security program provides benefits to retirees and those who are otherwise unable to work due to disease or disability. Social Security often provides the only source of consistent income for people who can no longer work—especially for those with modest earnings histories. In the article below, all references to self-employment tax refer to Social Security and Medicare taxes only and do not include any other taxes that self-employed individuals may be required to file. Other information may be appropriate for your specific type of business.

Paying Self-Employment Tax with Estimated Taxes

In 2020 and 2021, the share of earnings subject to Social Security taxes hit the lowest levels since before the 1983 reform. In fact, by 2021, the share of earnings subject to Social Security taxes was at the lowest level in nearly 50 years (since 1972). If you are married and file a joint return, and you and your spouse have a combined income that is between $32,000 and $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your benefits. If your combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. If your combined income is below $32,000, all of your Social Security income is tax-free.