The Social Security wage cap will be $132,900, and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by 2.8 percent in 2019. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation.
Wage Cap for Social Security Tax
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax on wages is 7.65 percent each for the employee and the employer. FICA tax has two components:
- A 6.2 percent Social Security tax, also known as old age, survivors and disability insurance (OASDI); and
- A 1.45 percent Medicare tax, also known as hospital insurance (HI).
For self-employed workers, the self-employment tax is 15.3 percent, consisting of:
- A 12.4 percent OASDI tax; and
- A 2.9 percent HI tax.
OASDI tax applies only up to a wage base, which includes most wages and self-employment income up to the annual wage cap.
For 2019, the wage base is $132,900. Thus, OASDI tax applies only to the taxpayer’s first $132,900 in wages or net earnings from self-employment. Taxpayers do not pay OASDI tax on earnings that exceed $132,900. There is no wage cap for HI tax.
Maximum Social Security Tax for 2019
For workers who earn $132,900 or more in 2019:
- An employee will pay a total of $8,239.80 in Social Security tax ($132,900 × 6.2 percent);
- The employer will pay the same amount; and
- A self-employed worker will pay a total of $16,479.60 in Social Security tax ($132,900 × 12.4 percent).
Additional Medicare Tax
Higher-income workers may have to pay an Additional Medicare tax of 0.9 percent on wages and self-employment income that exceed:
- $250,000 for married taxpayers who file a joint return;
- $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separate returns; and
- $200,000 for other taxpayers.
The annual wage cap does not affect the Additional Medicare tax.
Benefit Increase for 2019
A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will increase Social Security and SSI benefits for 2019 by 2.8 percent. The COLA is intended to ensure that inflation does not erode the purchasing power of these benefits.
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