Is Social Security Tax Mandatory? Rules, Rates & Exemptions (2026)
Yes, Social Security tax is compulsory for nearly all workers in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration’s 2026 fact sheet, employees contribute 6.2% of wages, employers contribute 6.2% and self-employed workers contribute the entire amount 12.4% up to the 2026 wage base limit of $184,500. A very small number of categories of […]
2026 Payroll Calendar for Weekly, Biweekly, and Monthly Payroll
2026 Payroll Calendar has one snag every employer will be familiar with: biweekly payroll will have 27 pay periods, rather than the typical 26. This occurs due to the calendar effect of 2026 that will push an additional payday into the year of any business operating on a Thursday/Friday cycle that begins in early January. […]
Payroll Deductions Explained: What Comes Out of Every Paycheck
Each paycheck has two stories: the amount an employee gets paid and the amount that gets deposited into their financial account. Payroll deductions fill that gap. Even one paystub usually contains six or seven individual withholdings before the final deposit. Some of them are required by federal law and employers provide others as benefits. This […]