Question

Mike Samson is a college football coach making a base salary of $646,800 a year ($53,900 per month). Employers are required to withhold a 6.2% Social Security tax up to a maximum base amount and a 1.45% Medicare tax with no maximum. Assuming the FICA base amount is $128,400.

Requried:
a. Compute how much will be withheld during the year for Coach Samson's Social Security and Medicare. Through what month will Social Security be withheld?
b. What additional amount will the employer need to contribute?

Answer 1

Social Security Amount = $7,960.8

Medicare Amount = $9,378.6

Additional amount (FICA taxes) to contribute = $17,339.4

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

Base salary = $646,800.

Required to withhold = 6.2% Social Security tax

Medicare tax = 1.45%

FICA base amount = $128,400.

Computation:

Social Security Amount = (FICA base amount) × Social Security tax

Social Security Amount = $128,400 × 6.2%

Social Security Amount = $7,960.8

Medicare Amount = Base salary × Medicare tax

Medicare Amount = $646,800 × 1.45%

Medicare Amount = $9,378.6

Additional amount (FICA taxes) to contribute = $7,960.8 + $9,378.6

Additional amount (FICA taxes) to contribute = $17,339.4