§ 3101. Rate of tax

§ 3101. Rate of tax

(a) Old-age, survivors, and disability insurance In addition to other taxes, there is hereby imposed on the income of every individual a tax equal to 6.2 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) received by the individual with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)).

(b) Hospital insurance

(1) In general In addition to the tax imposed by the preceding subsection, there is hereby imposed on the income of every individual a tax equal to 1.45 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) received by him with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)).

(2) Additional tax In addition to the tax imposed by paragraph (1) and the preceding subsection, there is hereby imposed on every taxpayer (other than a corporation, estate, or trust) a tax equal to 0.9 percent of wages which are received with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)) during any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2012, and which are in excess of—

(A) in the case of a joint return, $250,000,

(B) in the case of a married taxpayer (as defined in section 7703) filing a separate return, ½ of the dollar amount determined under subparagraph (A), and

(C) in any other case, $200,000.

(c) Relief from taxes in cases covered by certain international agreements During any period in which there is in effect an agreement entered into pursuant to section 233 of the Social Security Act with any foreign country, wages received by or paid to an individual shall be exempt from the taxes imposed by this section to the extent that such wages are subject under such agreement exclusively to the laws applicable to the social security system of such foreign country.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 415; Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1206, title II, § 208(b), 68 Stat. 1094; Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 836, title II, § 202(b), 70 Stat. 845; Pub. L. 85–840, title IV, § 401(b), Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1041; Pub. L. 87–64, title II, § 201(b), June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 141; Pub. L. 89–97, title I, § 111(c)(5), title III, § 321(b), July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 342, 395; Pub. L. 90–248, title I, § 109(a)(2), (b)(2), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 836; Pub. L. 92–5, title II, § 204(a)(1), Mar. 17, 1971, 85 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 92–336, § 204(a)(2), (b)(2), July 1, 1972, 86 Stat. 421, 422; Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(2), (b)(2), Oct. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 1362, 1363; Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(1), (b)(2), Dec. 31, 1973, 87 Stat. 954, 955; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1903(a)(1), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1806; Pub. L. 95–216, title I, § 101(a)(1), (b)(1), title III, § 317(b)(2), Dec. 20, 1977, 91 Stat. 1510, 1511, 1540; Pub. L. 98–21, title I, § 123(a)(1), Apr. 20, 1983, 97 Stat. 87; Pub. L. 108–203, title IV, § 415, Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 530; Pub. L. 111–148, title IX, § 9015(a)(1), title X, § 10906(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 870, 1020; Pub. L. 111–152, title I, § 1402(b)(1)(A), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(99)(A), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4051; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(207), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1194.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 233 of the Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is classified to section 433 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–141 inserted period at end.

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “6.2 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) received by the individual with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b))” for “the following percentages of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) received by him with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b))—” and table of rates.

2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–148, § 9015(a)(1), designated existing text as par. (1), inserted heading, substituted “1.45 percent of the” for “the following percentages of the” and “(as defined in section 3121(b)).” for “(as defined in section 3121(b))—”, struck out former pars. (1) to (6), which related to rates in calendar years 1974 to 1985 and after Dec. 31, 1985, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–152, § 1402(b)(1)(A), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).

Pub. L. 111–148, § 10906(a), substituted “0.9 percent” for “0.5 percent” in introductory provisions.

2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–203 substituted “exclusively to the laws applicable to” for “to taxes or contributions for similar purposes under”.

1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–21 substituted table of rates for former pars. (1) to (7) which had imposed a tax on the income of every individual (1) with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1974 through 1977 at the rate of 4.95 percent; (2) with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1978 at the rate of 5.05 percent; (3) with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1979 and 1980 at the rate of 5.08 percent; (4) with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1981 at the rate of 5.35 percent; (5) with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1982 through 1984 at the rate of 5.40 percent; (6) with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1985 through 1989 at the rate of 5.70 percent; and (7) with respect to wages received after Dec. 31, 1989, at the rate of 6.20 percent.

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–216, § 101(a)(1), substituted “1974 through 1977” for “1974 through 2010” in par. (1), substituted “wages received during the calendar year 1978, the rate shall be 5.05 percent” for “wages received after December 31, 2010, the rate shall be 5.95 percent” in par. (2), and added pars. (3) to (7).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–216, § 101(b)(1), substituted “wages received during the calendar year 1978, the rate shall be 1.00 percent” for “wages received during the calendar years 1978 through 1980, the rate shall be 1.10 percent” in par. (2), substituted “wages received during the calendar years 1979 and 1980, the rate shall be 1.05 percent” for “wages received during the calendar years 1981 through 1985, the rate shall be 1.35 percent”, in par. (3), substituted “wages received during the calendar years 1981 through 1984, the rate shall be 1.30 percent” for “wages received after December 31, 1985, the rate shall be 1.50 percent” in par. (4), and added pars. (5) and (6).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–216, § 317(b)(2), added subsec. (c).

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(1)(A), redesignated pars. (5) and (6) as (1) and (2), respectively. Former pars. (1) to (4), which related to a tax rate of 3.8 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1968, a tax rate of 4.2 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1969 and 1970, a tax rate of 4.6 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1971 and 1972, and a tax rate of 4.85 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1973, respectively, were struck out.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(1)(B), redesignated pars. (3) to (6) as (1) to (4), respectively. Former pars. (1) and (2), which related to a tax rate of .60 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972 and a tax rate of 1.0 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1973, respectively, were struck out.

1973—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(1), struck out provision for application of 4.85 percent rate of tax during calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(1), increased rate of tax from 4.80 percent to 4.95 percent and substituted calendar year “1974” for “1978” as the initial year for application of such rate.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(1), increased rate of tax from 5.85 percent to 5.95 percent.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(2), struck out provision for application of 1.0 percent rate of tax during calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(2), incorporated former provision of par. (2) for taxation of wages received during calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, decreased the applicable rate of tax from 1.0 percent to 0.90 percent, and struck out provision for 1.25 percent rate of tax for calendar years 1978, 1979, 1980.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(2), incorporated former provision of par. (3) for taxation of wages received during calendar years 1978, 1979, and 1980, decreased the applicable rate of tax from 1.25 percent to 1.10 percent, and struck out provision for 1.35 percent rate of tax for calendar years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985.

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(2), incorporated former provision of par. (4) for taxation of wages received during calendar years 1981 through 1985 at applicable 1.35 percent rate of tax and struck out provision for 1.45 percent rate of tax for wages received after Dec. 31, 1985.

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(2), incorporated former provision of par. (5) for taxation of wages received after Dec. 31, 1985 and increased the applicable rate of tax from 1.45 to 1.50 percent.

1972—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(2)(A), substituted “the calendar years 1971 and 1972” for “any of the calendar years 1971 through 1977”.

Subsec. (a)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 92–336, § 204(a)(2), substituted “any of the calendar years 1971 through 1977” for “the calendar years 1971 and 1972” in par. (3), “any of the calendar years 1978 through 2010” for “the calendar years 1973, 1974, and 1975” and “4.5” for “5.0” in par. (4), and “December 31, 2010” for “December 31, 1975” and “5.35” for “5.15” in par. (5).

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(2)(B), substituted “wages received during the calendar years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, the rate shall be 4.85 percent;” for “wages paid during any of the calendar years 1978 through 2010, the rate shall be 4.5 per cent; and”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(2)(B), substituted “wages received during the calendar years 1978 through 2010, the rate shall be 4.80 percent; and” for “wages paid after December 31, 2010, the rate shall be 5.35 percent”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(2)(B), added par. (6).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(2), increased rate of tax from 0.9 percent to 1.0 percent.

Subsec. (b)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 92–336, § 204(b)(2), inserted references to 1976 and 1977 and substituted “0.9” for “0.65” in par. (2), substituted references for the calendar years 1978 through 1985 for references to the calendar years 1976 through 1979 and substituted “1.0” for “0.70” in par. (3), substituted references for the calendar years 1986 through 1992 for references to the calendar years 1980 through 1986 and substituted “1.1” for “0.80” in par. (4), and substituted “1992” for “1986” and “1.2” for “0.90” in par. (5).

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(2), substituted “and 1980, the rate shall be 1.25 percent” for “1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, the rate shall be 1.0 percent”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(2), substituted “1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, the rate shall be 1.35 percent; and” for “1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992, the rate shall be 1.1 percent; and”.

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(2), substituted “December 31, 1985, the rate shall be 1.45 percent” for “December 31, 1992, the rate shall be 1.2 percent”.

1971—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 92–5 substituted “with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1973, 1974, and 1975, the rate shall be 5.0 percent; and” for “with respect to wages received after December 31, 1972, the rate shall be 5.0 percent”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 92–5 added par. (5).

1968—Subsec. (a)(1) to (4). Pub. L. 90–248, § 109(a)(2), substituted “1968” and “3.8” for “1966” and “3.85” in par. (1) and “1969 and 1970” and “4.2” for “1967 and 1968” and “3.9” in par. (2), struck out reference to calendar years 1969 and 1970 from par. (3) and substituted “4.6” and “4.4”, and substituted “5.0” for “4.85” in par. (4).

Subsec. (b)(1) to (5). Pub. L. 90–248, § 109(b)(2), struck out par. (1) provision for employee rate of 0.35 percent of wages received with respect to employment during calendar year 1966, redesignated pars. (2) to (6) as (1) to (5), struck out reference to “1967” in such par. (1) and increased the rate by 0.10 percent to 0.60, 0.65, 0.70, 0.80, and 0.90 in pars. (1) to (5), respectively.

1965—Pub. L. 89–97, § 321(b), divided the total tax imposed under the entire section upon income through a tax equal to percentages of wages into two separate taxes by dividing the section into subsecs. (a) and (b), with subsec. (a) reflecting the tax for old-age, survivors, and disability insurance and subsec. (b) reflecting the tax for hospital insurance, but, in the case of subsec. (b), without regard to the provisions of section 3121(b)(9) insofar as it relates to employees; increased from 4⅛ percent to 4.20 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages received during calendar year 1966 (resulting from a tax of 3.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.35 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅛ percent to 4.40 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages received during calendar year 1967 (resulting from a tax of 3.9 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.50 percent under subsec. (b)), reduced from 4⅝ percent to 4.40 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages received during calendar year 1968, (resulting from a tax of 3.9 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.50 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 4.90 percent the rate for calendar years 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972 (resulting from a tax of 4.4 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.50 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 5.40 percent the rate for calendar years 1973, 1974, and 1975, (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.55 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 5.45 percent the rate for calendar years 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.60 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 5.55 percent the rate for calendar years 1980 through 1986 (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.70 percent under subsec. (b)), and increased the rate for calendar years after Dec. 31, 1986, to 5.65 percent (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.80 percent under subsec. (b)).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–97, § 111(c)(5), struck out “, but without regard to the provisions of paragraph (9) thereof insofar as it relates to employees” after “as defined in section 3121(b)”.

1961—Pub. L. 87–64 increased rate of tax for calendar year 1962 from 3 to 3⅛ percent, calendar years 1963 to 1965, inclusive, from 3½ to 3⅝ percent, calendar years 1966 and 1967 from 4 to 4⅛ percent, calendar year 1968 from 4 to 4⅝ percent, and for calendar years after December 31, 1968, from 4½ to 4⅝ percent.