What FICA takes from your paycheck
Tax year 2026 · Last updated:
FICA is the combined employee Social Security and Medicare tax on US wages. It shows up on almost every W-2 paycheck — including in no-state-income-tax states like Texas and Florida.
Social Security + Medicare
Employee FICA has two parts: Social Security (OASDI) and Medicare. Employers generally pay a matching amount, but your stub shows the employee share.
TakeHome includes employee FICA in every state path for tax year 2026. That is why a Texas or Florida estimate is never “gross equals net.”
Why FICA still matters for offer comparisons
When you compare two states at the same salary, FICA often looks similar. The bigger swing is usually state income tax — but FICA still removes a meaningful slice every period.
If you only look at state tax savings and forget FICA (and federal income tax), you will overstate take-home.
What this guide does not cover
Additional Medicare tax for high earners, self-employment tax for contractors, and every wage-base nuance are simplified or out of scope in places. Read Methodology for coverage tiers and known omissions.
Use the calculator to see FICA alongside federal and state estimates for your inputs.
Remember
- FICA applies in every supported state path here
- No state income tax ≠ no payroll taxes
- Compare states after federal + FICA, not before
See FICA on a real estimate
Open the calculator and read the FICA line next to federal and state tax.
FAQ
Is FICA the same as federal income tax?
No. Federal income tax is based on taxable income and filing status. FICA is a separate payroll tax for Social Security and Medicare.
Do Texas and Florida skip FICA?
No. Those states skip general state personal income tax in our model, but employee FICA still applies.
Where can I see FICA in TakeHome?
In the calculator result breakdown. The home-page sample stub also shows an illustrative FICA line for a Texas biweekly paycheck.