<P> The employer is also liable for 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare taxes, making the total Social Security tax 12.4% of wages and the total Medicare tax 2.9% . (Self - employed people are responsible for the entire FICA percentage of 15.3% (= 12.4% + 2.9%), since they are in a sense both the employer and the employed; see the section on self - employed people for more details .) </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> (show) Employee's share of the Social Security portion of the FICA tax </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Rate </Th> <Th> Compensation Limit </Th> <Th> Maximum Tax </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2005 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $90,000 </Td> <Td> $5,580.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2006 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $94,200 </Td> <Td> $5,840.40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2007 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $97,500 </Td> <Td> $6,045.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2008 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $102,000 </Td> <Td> $6,324.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2009 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $106,800 </Td> <Td> $6,621.60 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $106,800 </Td> <Td> $6,621.60 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2011 </Th> <Td> 4.2% </Td> <Td> $106,800 </Td> <Td> $4,485.60 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2012 </Th> <Td> 4.2% </Td> <Td> $110,100 </Td> <Td> $4,624.20 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2013 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $113,700 </Td> <Td> $7,049.40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2014 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $117,000 </Td> <Td> $7,254.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2015 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $118,500 </Td> <Td> $7,347.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2016 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $118,500 </Td> <Td> $7,347.00 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2017 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $127,200 </Td> <Td> $7,886.40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 2018 </Th> <Td> 6.2% </Td> <Td> $128,400 </Td> <Td> $7,960.80 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> (show) Employee's share of the Social Security portion of the FICA tax </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Rate </Th> <Th> Compensation Limit </Th> <Th> Maximum Tax </Th> </Tr>

What is the purpose of the fica act