Understanding Your Paycheck Withholdings
Every W-2 paycheck is subject to mandatory federal and state withholdings. Under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), 6.2% is withheld for Social Security (capped at $168,600) and 1.45% is withheld for Medicare. Contributing to a pre-tax traditional 401(k) or HSA reduces your taxable income, lowering the federal income tax deducted from each paycheck.