Crucially, this need not be, and should not be, a matter of raising taxes in the aggregate. The proceeds from a gasoline tax ought to be used to finance cuts in other taxesâthis, surely, is the way to present them to a sceptical electorate.
Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates. The current tax rate for social security is 6.2% for the employer and 6.2% for the employee, or 12.4% total. The current rate for Medicare is 1.45% for the employer and 1.45% for the employee, or 2.9% total.
FICA withholding is calculated based upon an established taxation rate. For 2012, the rate of Social Security withholding was 4.2 percent up to a limit of $4,624.20. Medicare withholding was 1.45 percent. The base amount of income taxable for FICA is referred to as the Social Security wage base. For 2012, the base was $110,100, as stated by the Social Security Administration. The increase of average national wages results in an increase of the Social Security wage base.