What Is FICA?

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, a U.S. law that mandates a payroll tax on both employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicare. In 2026, employees pay 6.2% for Social Security (up to a wage base of $184,500) and 1.45% for Medicare (no cap), for a total FICA rate of 7.65%. Your employer matches this amount, meaning the total FICA contribution is 15.3%.

Common paystub code: FICA

Where You'll See FICA

• On your paystub (earnings statement) under earnings, deductions, or taxes
• On your annual W-2 form (or 1099 for contractors)
• In payroll software (ADP, Paychex, Gusto, QuickBooks)
• In employer payroll reports and IRS filings

Related Terms

• Social Security Tax
• Medicare Tax
• payroll-tax
• Self-Employment Tax (SE Tax)

Generate a paystub showing FICA clearly with our free paystub generator, or browse the full payroll glossary (44+ terms explained).

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