Social Security and Payroll Taxes
Thanks to falling birthrates and rising numbers of retirees in the U.S., the future of Social Security is uncertain. Over the years, Tax Foundation economists have published a range of studies exploring Social Security's financial problems and outlining possible reforms to help restore the system to long-term solvency. Currently, U.S. federal payroll taxes consist of a 12.4 percent Social Security tax, and a 2.9 percent Medicare tax.
Additional questions about Social Security and payroll taxes? Call (202) 464-6200.
Related Blog Entries
- Senator Reid Seeking to Raise Medicare Tax on Those Earning Above $250,000, by Gerald Prante, November 12, 2009
- Payroll Taxes Are Taxes , by Justin Higginbottom, October 20, 2009
- Bartlett: Payroll Tax Cut Won't Work, by Joseph Henchman, October 19, 2009
- The Mischiefs of Tax Withholding and Separate Income and Payroll Taxes, by Joseph Henchman, August 13, 2009
- Medicare Running Deficit; Social Security to Follow By 2016, by Joseph Henchman, May 13, 2009
- And the [News] Beat Goes On: Another Sampling of Media Coverage From a Busy Tax Week, by Matt Moon, April 16, 2009
- Finally, Work Made to Pay, by Mark Robyn, March 16, 2009
- The Making Work Pay Credit: Who Will Benefit?, by Mark Robyn, February 25, 2009
- Nancy Killefer Gets Thrown Under the Tax Bus, by Josh Barro, February 3, 2009
- This Morning's News and Views on Obama Tax, Stimulus Plan, by Matt Moon, January 5, 2009
- A Different Nanny Tax, by Joseph Henchman, December 11, 2008
- In the News: Tax Strategies, Tax Fraud, Tax Relief and Carbon Tax, by Matt Moon, December 3, 2008
- TARP and a Tax Holiday Are Apples and Oranges, by Josh Barro, December 1, 2008
- Obama Proposes Big Tax Increases, But Not 65% Big, by Josh Barro, October 31, 2008
- So How Does the Obama Tax Plan Really Affect Joe the Plumber?, by Josh Barro, October 17, 2008
- Biden Speech Is Feast for Factcheck.org, by Joseph Henchman and Gerald Prante, September 25, 2008
- Where to Retire?, by Joseph Henchman, August 15, 2008
- Questions About the Obama Tax Plan, by Robert Carroll, August 14, 2008
- Thursday Video: Social Security (and Payroll Taxes) Turn 73 Years Old Today, by Joseph Henchman, August 14, 2008
- Obama Would Lift Social Security Earnings Cap, But At A Lower Tax Rate, by Joseph Henchman, July 8, 2008
- GAO: Uncle Sam Paying Medical Providers But Not Vice Versa, by Will Luther, June 20, 2008
- Which States Would Be Affected Most by Obama's Proposal to Lift the Social Security Tax Cap?, by TF Staff, June 3, 2008
- Presidential Candidates' Views on Social Security, by Gerald Prante, November 29, 2007
- Tax Foundation Files Two U.S. Supreme Court Briefs, by Joseph Henchman, September 25, 2007
- New Report on Tax Burdens and Government Spending by Age Group, by Andrew Chamberlain, June 4, 2007
- New Study Analyzes Distribution of Taxes and Spending Together, by Gerald Prante, March 23, 2007
- Katherine Baicker Discusses Health Care Reform, by Alicia Hansen, January 30, 2007
- Growing Entitlement Spending and 'Economic Collapse', by Andrew Chamberlain, January 18, 2007
- Podcast with Boston University Economist Laurence Kotlikoff, by Andrew Chamberlain, September 26, 2006
- Social Security Celebrates 70th Anniversary, by Curtis S. Dubay, August 15, 2005
- Fixing Social Security and Encouraging Growth, by Curtis S. Dubay, May 17, 2005
- General Motors and the Entitlement Culture, by Curtis S. Dubay, May 3, 2005
