Final answer:
Income tax withholding is the tax paid solely by employees. Other payroll taxes such as Social Security and Medicare are split between the employer and the employee, though in effect, employees bear the cost. FUTA taxes are solely paid by the employer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tax that is paid solely by the employee and not by the employer is d. Income tax withholding. The other taxes listed, such as Medicare taxes, Social Security taxes, and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) taxes, are typically shared between the employer and the employee, though the actual burden may fall on the employee in the form of lower wages as employers may pass their portion of the tax onto employees. Specifically, FUTA taxes are paid entirely by the employer and are not deducted from the employee's wages.
When considering payroll taxes, employees see 6.2% deducted from their paycheck for Social Security, and 1.45% for Medicare. Self-employed individuals, including those who own a corporation or are independent contractors, must cover both the employer and employee portion of these taxes.