2024 FICA Percentages, Max Taxable Wages and Max Tax

Updated: December 27, 2023
In this Article

    FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) requires federal agencies to withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from employees’ compensation. It also requires them to pay matching FICA taxes to the Social Security Administration.

    Under the law, the Department of Defense must withhold FICA taxes from all military service members, including those serving in:

    • Military service academies (excluding foreign nationals)
    • Aviation cadet status
    • Combat zones.

    Wages subject to FICA withholding include:

    • Base pay (excluding reduction for educational benefits under Montgomery G.I. Bill)
    • Inactive duty compensation
    • Taxable compensation earned but unpaid at the time of a service member’s death, which was then paid to the service member’s beneficiary during the same calendar year as his or her death. (This compensation is subject to the maximum earnings tax.)
    • Basic pay or compensation earned during an absence due to injury, sickness or hospitalization
    • Taxable amounts received before the government voided a former service member’s enlistment contract

    FICA deductions continue until a service member’s total compensation for active duty and inactive duty exceeds the maximum taxable earnings limit for FICA withholding, and the maximum FICA tax amount has been deducted.

    Medicare taxes do not stop at a certain wage limit, according to the IRS. All taxable earnings are subject to Medicare tax.

    FICA Percentages, Max Taxable Wages, & Max Tax

    What is the Maximum FICA Tax for 2024?

    The maximum FICA tax rate for 2024 is 6.2%. It remains the same as 2023. The rate is for both employees and employers, according to the Internal Revenue Code. The rate for self-employment income is 12.4% in 2024.

    The 2024 maximum FICA taxable wage cap increased to $168,600 from $160,200 in 2023.

    FICA Percentages, Maximum Taxable Wages and Maximum Tax Chart

    YearSocial Security (OASDI) TaxMax FICA WagesMax TaxMedicare (Hospital Insurance) TaxMax Medicare Tax
    20246.2%$168,600$10,453.201.45%Unlimited
    20236.2%$160,200$9,932.401.45%Unlimited
    20226.2%$147,000 $9,1141.45%Unlimited
    20216.2%$142,800$8,853.601.45%Unlimited
    20206.2%$137,700$8,537.401.45%Unlimited
    20196.2%$132,900$8,239.801.45%Unlimited
    20186.2%$128,400$7,960.801.45%Unlimited
    20176.2%$127,200$7,886.401.45%Unlimited
    20166.2%$118,500$7,3471.45%Unlimited
    20156.2%$118,500$7,3471.45%Unlimited
    20146.2%$118,500$7,2541.45%Unlimited
    20134.2%$113,700$7,049.401.45%Unlimited
    20126.2%$110,100$4,624.201.45%Unlimited
    20116.2%$106,800$4,485.601.45%Unlimited
    20106.2%$106,800$6,621.601.45%Unlimited
    20096.2%$106,800$6,621.601.45%Unlimited
    20086.2%$102,000$6,3241.45%Unlimited
    20076.2%$106,800$6,621.601.45%Unlimited
    20066.2%$94,200$5,840.401.45%Unlimited
    20056.2%$90,000$5,5801.45%Unlimited

    NOTE: If the current year is not listed, Refer to the Social Security Administration’s “Contribution and Benefit Base.”

    If a service member is confined due to UCMJ action (Uniformed Code of Military Justice), DOD waives the service member’s compensation but may pay it directly to the service member’s dependents for a transitional period of up to six months. These payments are still subject to FICA tax (DoD 7000.14-R, Vol. 7A, chapter 48, subparagraph 480307-c).


    Additional Leave and Earning Statement (LES) Deductions

    Additional deductions from the LES statement may include:

    • Federal and state income tax withholdings
    • Debt collections (e.g. garnishments, out-of-service debt, bankruptcy, delinquent government travel card debt)
    • Discretionary allotments (e.g. savings accounts, voluntary dependant support, insurance premiums, mortgages, rent or fund investments).
    • Non-Discretionary allotments (e.g. U.S. Savings Bonds, privatized housing payments, court-ordered child support, Veterans Educational Assistance Program).
    • Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
    • Family Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)

    Written by Veteran.com Team