how much social security i pay
Tax Rate. The usual rate for Social Security tax is 6.2 percent of your gross wages, including tips, bonuses and other compensation. This means your employer withholds 6.2 percent of your gross pay before withholding allowances are subtracted. For example, if your gross pay is $500, you pay $31 in Social Security tax. In 2011 and 2012, Congress temporarily lowered the Social Security tax rate for employees to 4.2 percent. You had to pay Social Security tax on the first $110,100 of gross income as of 2012. The income limit is adjusted annually, so check with the Internal Revenue Service for the current figure.