Do employees and independent contractors pay different FICA tax rates?

Employees and independent contractors indeed face different FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) tax structures, leading to differing effective rates. Employees typically have FICA taxes withheld from their paychecks, which includes both Social Security and Medicare taxes. Employers are also required to match the employee's contribution, meaning the effective rate is shared between the two parties.

On the other hand, independent contractors are responsible for paying the entire FICA tax themselves, as they do not have an employer to withhold and match contributions. Instead, they report and pay this tax as part of their self-employment tax on their tax returns. As a result, while the nominal rates for Social Security and Medicare do not differ, the total tax burden effectively differs because of the employer match for employees.