While there is no cap on how much of a taxpayer's wage income is subject to income tax, there is a maximum amount of wages subject to FICA. Since employers are required to withhold FICA taxes, a taxpayer working for multiple employers may find that the total FICA withheld for the tax year has exceeded the maximum. This is especially true for higher wage earners.
The wage limit for FICA is adjusted annually. The more recent year limits are as follows:
| Tax year | FICA Wage Cap | FICA Max Tax |
| 2025 | $176,100 | $10,918.20 |
| 2024 | $168,600 | $10,453.20 |
| 2023 | $160,200 | $9,932.40 |
| 2022 | $147,000 | $9,114.00 |
| 2021 | $142,800 | $8,853.60 |
| 2020 | $137,700 | $8,537.40 |
| 2019 | $132,900 | $8,239.80 |
| 2018 | $128,400 | $7,960.80 |
| 2017 | $127,200 | $7,886.40 |
If the individual income tax return includes excess FICA withholdings, they are credited to the taxpayer on Schedule 3.
Note that if a single employer is withholding too much FICA, the employee should talk to the employer to correct the withholding scheme and get reimbursed. If the employer doesn't make the correction, the taxpayer can seek relief directly from the IRS by filing Form 843.
Note: This is a guide on how over-withheld FICA taxes are treated in TaxSlayer ProWeb. It is not intended as tax advice.
Additional Information:
IRS: Social Security Tax / Medicare Tax and Self-Employment
IRS: Instructions for Form 843
IRS: Topic No. 608 Excess Social Security and RRTA Tax Withheld