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FICA & Paycheck Basics Quiz

Tax Quiz

Check what you know about payroll taxes with 12 questions on FICA, Social Security and Medicare withholding, the employer match, wage base limits, and how W-4 withholding is set.

3 min · 12 questions

Written by · Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated August 28, 2026

Question 1 of 12

What do FICA taxes pay for?

Most people glance at the net number on their pay stub and skip everything above it. The lines in between (Social Security, Medicare, federal withholding) follow rules that are worth knowing, especially when a raise, a second job, or a big bonus makes the math look off. This 12-question quiz covers the FICA rate, the employer match, wage base limits, the Additional Medicare Tax, and how your W-4 drives income tax withholding. Give it about three minutes.

After you get your score, break down your own check with the Payroll Tax Calculator, and if your refund or balance due last April felt wrong, the W-4 Withholding Calculator will show what to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is my score calculated?

One point per correct answer across 12 questions, so your score runs from 0 to 12. Wrong answers don't subtract anything.

Is anything saved when I take this quiz?

No. Everything happens in your browser, nothing goes to a server, and closing or refreshing the tab wipes your progress and score.

What's the difference between FICA and SECA?

FICA is the payroll tax split between an employee and employer. SECA is the version self-employed people pay, covering both halves themselves as self-employment tax. The programs funded are the same: Social Security and Medicare.

Why did my Social Security withholding stop partway through the year?

The 6.2% Social Security tax only applies up to the annual wage base. Once your year-to-date wages with an employer pass that figure, the withholding stops until the next calendar year. Medicare withholding keeps going.

How do I estimate my own paycheck deductions?

Run your pay through the [Payroll Tax Calculator](/us/payroll-tax-calculator/) to see the FICA and withholding breakdown, then use the [W-4 Withholding Calculator](/us/w4-withholding-calculator/) to check whether your income tax withholding is set to leave you close to even at tax time.

Does a bigger paycheck from overtime get taxed at a higher rate?

FICA stays a flat 7.65% regardless. Income tax withholding on a larger check can look higher because payroll formulas briefly treat that period as if every check were that size, but your actual yearly rate is settled when you file.

Are the numbers in this quiz current?

The rates (6.2%, 1.45%, 0.9%, 7.65%, 15.3%) are set in law and stable. The Social Security wage base and the exact Additional Medicare Tax thresholds are worth confirming for the current year before you rely on them.

Can I retake the quiz?

Yes, as often as you like. Reading your next pay stub line by line right after taking it tends to make the concepts stick.