For High Earners, FICA Taxes Increase in 2008, CCH Says

RIVERWOODS, Ill., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Highly-paid wage earners will see a moderate increase in the wage base on which Social Security taxes are due for 2008, according to CCH, a leading provider of tax, benefits and payroll law information and software and a part of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (hr.cch.com). The 2008 wage base of $102,000 is $4,500 higher than the 2007 amount, and the maximum additional Social Security tax that might be collected on someone earning above the 2007 wage base is $279. This increase in the wage base matches the one for 2002 as the largest in dollars and cents ever. However, as a percentage, the 4.6 percent increase is only slightly higher than the average increase of 4.1 percent during the 19 years that the 6.2 percent Social Security tax rate has been in effect.

The tax increase will show up in the amount of FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act) tax deducted next year from the paychecks of those earning above the 2007 wage base. Although the tax rate for the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) portion of FICA has held steady at 6.2 percent since 1990, the amount of wages subject to the tax can, and usually does, increase each year, based on a national wage index. The taxes paid by employees are matched by identical amounts paid by employers into the Social Security system.

The tax rate for the "Hospital Insurance," or Medicare, portion of FICA is 1.45 percent, and it applies to every dollar of earnings. This amount also is matched by employers.

"Taxes for self-employed individuals use the same earnings base, but the rates are double those of employees, since the self-employed must also pay the 'employer' portion of the taxes," said Avram Sacks, JD, CCH Social Security law analyst.

"This means that high-earning, self-employed individuals may owe as much as $558 in additional self-employment tax in 2008," Sacks said. "However, they can recoup some of this amount through a deduction on their federal income tax."

About 12 million workers will be affected by the higher wage base in 2008.

Increase Less Than Estimated

The wage base for 2008 is $300 less than the estimated increase published in the 2007 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASDI Trust Funds issued in April of this year. The 2008 wage base reflects national average wages for 2006, the variable upon which the 2008 wage base formula is based. The 2006 national average wage index of $38,651.41 is 4.6 percent higher than the 2005 national average wage index, and the second highest increase since 2000; however, the increase in national average wages is just slightly higher than the average increase of 4.1 percent over the past 19 years.

"The 4.6 percent increase is relatively close to the 4.8 percent increase predicted by the Social Security trustees in their April report," Sacks noted.

Consequences for Revenues, Benefits

"The wage base also is a benefits base," Sacks noted. "Only earnings up to the wage base are considered in calculating Social Security benefits. As a result, those who pay more now should receive more later. Some private pensions also use the amount of 'covered compensation' -- that is, compensation up to the wage base -- in calculating their benefits as well."

Domestic Workers

There will be an increase of $100 next year in the amount of wages a domestic worker can earn without being subject to FICA taxes. In 2008, you can pay a domestic worker, such as a maid or nanny, up to $1,600 without having to wrestle with federal withholding on wages.

About Wolters Kluwer Law & Business

Wolters Kluwer Law & Business is a leading provider of research products and software solutions in key specialty areas for legal and business professionals, as well as casebooks and study aids for law students. Its major product lines include Aspen Publishers, CCH, Kluwer Law International and Loislaw. Its markets include law firms, law schools, corporate counsel and professionals requiring legal and compliance information. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, a unit of Wolters Kluwer, is based in New York City and Riverwoods, Ill. The Wolters Kluwer Law & Business human resources site is hr.cch.com.

Wolters Kluwer is a leading global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, and legal and regulatory sectors. Wolters Kluwer had 2006 annual revenues of euro 3.4 billion, employs approximately 18,450 people worldwide, and maintains operations across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. For more information, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com/.