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Social Security Tax Calculator

Estimate how much Social Security tax applies to wages, how the wage base limit works, and what the employer match or self-employed equivalent looks like.

Social Security Inputs

Social Security Tax Estimate

Uses the employee 6.2% Social Security rate and the current wage base cap.

Taxable Wages

$85,000

Wages Above Wage Base

$0

Employee Tax

$5,270

Employer Match

$5,270

Self-Employed Equivalent

$10,540

Wage Base

$184,500

Tax data and review status

These tax calculator estimates use 2026 federal income-tax brackets, 2026 FICA values, and state income-tax data that is versioned separately. They were reviewed on June 2, 2026. Treat results as planning estimates, not tax, payroll, legal, or financial advice.

How Social Security Tax Is Estimated

Core formula

Taxable wages up to the wage base × 6.2% = employee Social Security tax

Best use case

Wages above $184,500 stop increasing the employee Social Security tax for 2026.

Important limits

  • This page focuses on Social Security tax only, not Medicare or income tax.
  • It shows the employer match and the self-employed equivalent for planning purposes.
  • Use it to understand how much of your wages remain subject to the wage base cap.

Data Sources and Review Process

Tax rates are stored in versioned JSON files and should be checked against official federal, FICA, and state sources during each annual update. Federal and FICA values are current for 2026; state data is versioned separately.

Social Security Tax Calculator FAQ

How much is Social Security tax?

Employee Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. Employers generally match that 6.2% amount.

What happens after I reach the wage base?

Wages above the annual Social Security wage base are not subject to the employee Social Security tax. Medicare can still continue beyond that point because it does not use the same cap.

Why does the calculator show a self-employed equivalent?

Self-employed workers usually cover both the employee and employer Social Security shares, so the combined 12.4% equivalent is useful for planning. Medicare and income tax are separate from this page.

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