My comments: Social Security is under threat. It’s running out of money. Sort of.

Back in 1983, under President Reagan, Congress made some changes as, like now, the future of the program looked cloudy. They increased the age at which you qualified for full benefits, they increased the percentage of earned income you paid into the system and they raised the threshhold for how much of your earned income was subject to the FICA tax.

This is a good explanation of what it going on now.

By William Perez | October 31, 2016

The Social Security tax is a tax applied to income related to labor. All employees and self-employed entrepreneurs pay into Social Security through the Social Security tax, which is also known as Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI).

The Social Security tax functions very much like a flat tax. A single rate of 12.4% is applied to wage and self-employment income earned by a worker up to a maximum dollar limit.

Half of this tax is paid for by the employee in the form of payroll withholding. The other half of this tax is paid for by the employer. Self-employed persons pay both halves of the Social Security tax since they are both the employee and the employer.

Social Security tax rates

Employees pay 6.2% of their wage earnings, up to the maximum wage base.

Employers pay 6.2% of their employee’s wage earnings, up to the maximum wage base.

Self-employed persons pay the combined rate of 12.4% of their net earnings from self-employment, up to the maximum wage base. This is calculated as part of the self-employment tax on Schedule SE.

The Math Behind the Social Security Tax

All wages and self-employment income up to the Social Security wage base in effect for a given year is subject to the Social Security tax.

Social Security Wage Base by Year
2017 $127,200
2016 $118,500
2015 $118,500
2014 $117,000
2013 $113,700
2012 $110,100
2011 $106,800
Source: Social Security Administration, Contribution and Benefit Base

Earnings up to the Social Security wage base amount have the Social Security tax applied. Earnings over the wage base amount do not have the Social Security tax applied.

The math works like this:
• If wages are less than $127,200 in the year 2017, then wages times 6.2% is the amount the employee pays and wages times 6.2% is the amount the employer pays.
• If wages are more than $127,200 in the year 2017, then 127,200 times 6.2% is the amount the employee pays and this is also the same amount the employer pays.

What is the Social Security Tax For?

Unlike income taxes, which are paid into the general fund of the United States and can be used for any purposes, Social Security taxes are paid into special trust funds that can be used only to pay for current and future Social Security retirement benefits, benefits for widows and widowers, and disability benefits.

Historical information about Social Security Taxes

Special Rate Reduction for 2011 and 2012

Back in the years 2011 and 2012, the Social Security tax rate paid by employees is 4.2% instead of the normal 6.2%. Employers still pay the full 6.2% rate. Thus for 2011 and 2012, the combined Social Security tax rate is 10.4%. Self-employed persons will pay this 10.4% combined rate on their earnings. This special payroll tax holiday was enacted as part of the Tax Relief Act of 2010, then extended through February 2012 by HR 3765, and then further extended through the end of 2012 by HR 3630.

The reduced Social Security tax rate was not renewed for 2013 as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act. For 2013, the Social Security tax reverts to its normal tax rate of 6.2% for employees, 6.2% for employers, and 12.4% for self-employed persons.

Thus for 2011 and 2012, we substitute 4.2% for 6.2% in the above math formulas for the amount paid by the employee. At the maximum wage base of $106,800 for 2011, this translates into a tax savings of $2,136, as follows:
• Social security tax at the normal rate: 106,800 times 6.2% = $6,621.60
• Social security tax at the reduced rate for 2011: 106,800 times 4.2% = $4,485.60

At the 2012 maximum wage base of $110,100, this translates into a tax savings of $2,202, as follows:
• Social security tax at the normal rate: 110,100 times 6.2% = $6,826.20
• Social security tax at the reduced rate for 2012: 110,100 times 4.2% = $4,624.20

You can plug in your own salary level to determine your own personal savings from the payroll tax holiday. If your earnings from wages and self-employment are less than the wage base, simply multiply your earnings by 2% to find your savings. If your earnings are more than the wage base, you receive the maximum savings of $2,136 (for 2011) and $2,202 (for 2012).

What Happens to the “Missing” Social Security Funds from the 2-Year Tax Rate Reduction?

To prevent Social Security from losing tax revenue, Congress mandated that revenues be transferred from the general fund to the Social Security trust funds to make up for the tax reduction. This is provided for in section 601 of the Tax Relief Act, which reads in part, “There are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of the application of subsection (a). Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund had such amendments not been enacted.”