Amended 1954, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1965
- 1965 Pub. L. 89-97 Pub. L. 89–97, § 321(c), divided the total excise tax imposed under the entire section upon employers through a tax equal to percentages of wages paid by him into two separate taxes by dividing the section into subsecs. (a) and (b), with subsec. (a) reflecting the tax for old-age, survivors, and disability insurance, and subsec. (b) reflecting the tax for hospital insurance, but, in the case of subsec. (b), without regard to the provisions of section 3121(b)(9) insofar as it relates to employees; increased from 4⅛ percent to 4.20 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages paid during calendar year 1966 (resulting from a tax of 3.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.35 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅛ percent to 4.40 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages paid during calendar year 1967 (resulting from a tax of 3.9 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.50 percent under subsec. (b)), reduced from 4⅝ percent to 4.40 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages paid during calendar year 1968 (resulting from a tax of 3.9 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.50 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 4.90 percent the rate of total tax imposed by the entire section upon wages paid during the calendar years 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972 (resulting from a tax of 4.4 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.50 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 5.40 percent the rate for calendar years 1973, 1974, and 1975 (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.55 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 5.45 percent the rate for calendar years 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.60 percent under subsec. (b)), increased from 4⅝ percent to 5.55 percent the rate for calendar years 1980 through 1986 (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.70 percent under subsec. (b)), and increased the rate from 4⅝ percent to 5.65 percent for calendar years after December 31, 1986 (resulting from a tax of 4.85 percent under subsec. (a) and 0.80 percent under subsec. (b)).
- 1961 Pub. L. 87-64 Pub. L. 87–64 increased rate of tax for calendar year 1962 from 3 to 3⅛ percent, calendar years 1963 to 1965, inclusive, from 3½ to 3⅝ percent, calendar years 1966 and 1967 from 4 to 4⅛ percent, calendar year 1968 from 4 to 4⅝ percent, and for calendar years after December 31, 1968, from 4½ to 4⅝ percent.
- 1958 Pub. L. 85-840 Pub. L. 85–840 increased rate of tax by substituting provisions imposing a tax of 2½ percent for calendar year 1959, 3 percent for calendar years 1960–62, 3½ percent for calendar years 1963–65, 4 percent for calendar years 1966–68, and 4½ percent for calendar years beginning after Dec. 31, 1968, for provisions which imposed a tax of 2¼ percent for calendar years 1957–59, 2¾ percent for calendar years 1960–64, 3¼ percent for calendar years 1965–69, 3¾ percent for calendar years 1970–74, and 4¼ percent for calendar years beginning after Dec. 31, 1974.
- 1956 Act Aug. 1, 1956, increased rate of tax with respect to wages paid during calendar years 1957 to 1959, and for all calendar years thereafter, by one-quarter percent.
- 1954 Act Sept. 1, 1954, increased 3¼ percent rate of tax for calendar year 1970 and subsequent years to 3½ percent for calendar years 1970 to 1974 and 4 percent for 1975 and subsequent years.
Cases: The Bubble Room, Inc. v. United States, 159 F.3d 553 (Fed. Cir. 1999); Zhang v. United States, 640 F.3d 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2011)
Final rules 1
(a) Old-age, survivors, and disability insurance In addition to other taxes, there is hereby imposed on every employer an excise tax, with respect to having individuals in his employ, equal to 6.2 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) paid by the employer with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)).
Amended 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1987, 1988, 2014
- 2014 Pub. L. 113-295 Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(99)(B)(i), substituted “6.2 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) paid by the employer with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)).” for “the following percentages of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) paid by him with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b))—” and table of rates.
- 1988 Pub. L. 100-647 Pub. L. 100–647 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 100–203, § 9006(b)(1), see 1987 Amendment note below.
- 1987 Pub. L. 100-203 Pub. L. 100–203, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, struck out “and (t)” after “3121(a)” in introductory provisions.
- 1983 Pub. L. 98-21 Pub. L. 98–21 substituted table of rates for pars. (1) to (7) which had imposed a tax on every employer (1) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1974 through 1977 at the rate of 4.95 percent, (2) with respect to wages paid during the calendar year 1978 at the rate of 5.05 percent, (3) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1979 and 1980 at the rate of 5.08 percent, (4) with respect to wages paid during the calendar year 1981 at the rate of 5.35 percent, (5) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1982 through 1984 at the rate of 5.40 percent, (6) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1985 through 1989 at the rate of 5.70 percent, and (7) with respect to wages paid after Dec. 31, 1989, at the rate of 6.20 percent.
- 1977 Pub. L. 95-216 Pub. L. 95–216, §§ 101(a)(2), 315(b), substituted “(as defined in section 3121(a) and (t))” for “(as defined in section 3121(a))” in provisions preceding par. (1), substituted “1974 through 1977” for “1974 through 2010” in par. (1), substituted “wages paid during the calendar year 1978, the rate shall be 5.05 percent” for “wages paid after December 31, 2010, the rate shall be 5.95 percent” in par. (2), and added pars. (3) to (7).
- 1976 Pub. L. 94-455 Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(1)(A), redesignated pars. (5) and (6) as (1) and (2). Former pars. (1) to (4), which related to a tax rate of 3.8 percent with respect to wages received during the taxable year 1968, a tax rate of 4.2 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1969 and 1970, a tax rate of 4.6 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1971 and 1972, and a tax rate of 4.85 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1973, respectively, were struck out.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(2), struck out provision for application of 4.85 percent rate of tax during calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(2), increased rate of tax from 4.80 percent to 4.95 percent and substituted calendar year “1974” to “1978” as initial year for application of such rate.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(a)(2), increased rate of tax from 5.85 percent to 5.95 percent.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(3)(A), substituted “the calendar years 1971 and 1972” for “any of the calendar years 1971 through 1977”.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-336 Pub. L. 92–336, § 204(a)(3), substituted “any of the calendar years 1971 through 1977” for “the calendar years 1971 and 1972” in par. (3), “any of the calendar years 1978 through 2010” for “the calendar years 1973, 1974, and 1975” and “4.5” for “5.0” in par. (4), and “December 31, 2010” for “December 31, 1975” and “5.35” for “5.15” in par. (5).
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(3)(B), substituted “received during the calendar years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, the rate shall be 4.85 percent;” for “received during any of the calendar years 1978 through 2010, the rate shall be 4.5 percent; and”.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(3)(B), substituted “received during the calendar years 1978 through 2010, the rate shall be 4.80 percent; and” for “received after December 31, 2010, the rate shall be 5.35 percent”.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(a)(3)(B), added par. (6).
- 1971 Pub. L. 92-5 Pub. L. 92–5 substituted “with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1973, 1974, and 1975, the rate shall be 5.0 percent; and” for “with respect to wages paid after December 31, 1972, the rate shall be 5.0 percent”.
- 1971 Pub. L. 92-5 Pub. L. 92–5 added par. (5).
- 1968 Pub. L. 90-248 Pub. L. 90–248, § 109(a)(3), substituted “1968” and “3.8” for “1966” and “3.85” in par. (1) and “1969 and 1970” and “4.2” for “1967 and 1968” and “3.9” in par. (2), struck out reference to calendar years 1969 and 1970 from par. (3) and substituted therein “4.6” for “4.4”, and substituted “5.0” for “4.85” in par. (4).
Cases: United States v. Cleveland Indians Baseball Co., 532 U.S. 200 (2001)
Cited by 21
(b) Hospital insurance In addition to the tax imposed by the preceding subsection, there is hereby imposed on every employer an excise tax, with respect to having individuals in his employ, equal to 1.45 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) paid by the employer with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)).
Amended 1965, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1987, 1988, 2014
- 2014 Pub. L. 113-295 Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(99)(B)(ii), substituted “1.45 percent of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) paid by the employer with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b)).” for “the following percentages of the wages (as defined in section 3121(a)) paid by him with respect to employment (as defined in section 3121(b))—
“(1) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1974 through 1977, the rate shall be 0.90 percent;
“(2) with respect to wages paid during the calendar year 1978, the rate shall be 1.00 percent;
“(3) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1979 and 1980, the rate shall be 1.05 percent;
“(4) with respect to wages paid during the calendar years 1981 through 1984, the rate shall be 1.30 percent;
“(5) with respect to wages paid during the calendar year 1985, the rate shall be 1.35 percent; and
“(6) with respect to wages paid after December 31, 1985, the rate shall be 1.45 percent.”
- 1988 Pub. L. 100-647 Pub. L. 100–647 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 100–203, § 9006(b)(1), see 1987 Amendment note below.
- 1987 Pub. L. 100-203 Pub. L. 100–203, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, struck out “and (t)” after “3121(a)” in introductory provisions.
- 1977 Pub. L. 95-216 Pub. L. 95–216, §§ 101(b)(2), 315(b), substituted “(as defined in section 3121(a) and (t))” for “(as defined in section 3121(a))” in provisions preceding par. (1), substituted “wages paid during the calendar year 1978, the rate shall be 1.00 percent” for “wages paid during the calendar years 1978 through 1980, the rate shall be 1.10 percent”, in par. (2), substituted “wages paid during the calendar years 1979 and 1980, the rate shall be 1.05 percent” for wages paid during the calendar years 1981 through 1985, the rate shall be 1.35 percent” in par. (3), substituted “wages paid during the calendar years 1981 through 1984, the rate shall be 1.30 percent” for “wages paid after December 31, 1985, the rate shall be 1.50 percent” in par. (4), and added pars. (5) and (6).
- 1976 Pub. L. 94-455 Pub. L. 94–455, § 1903(a)(1)(B), redesignated pars. (3) to (6) as (1) to (4), respectively. Former pars. (1) and (2), which related to a tax rate of .60 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972 and a tax rate of 1.0 percent with respect to wages received during the calendar year 1973, respectively, were struck out.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(3), struck out provision for application of 1.0 percent rate of tax during calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(3), incorporated former provision of par. (2) for taxation of wages received during calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, decreased the applicable rate of tax from 1.0 percent to 0.90 percent, and struck out provision for 1.25 percent rate of tax for calendar years 1978, 1979, and 1980.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(3), incorporated former provision of par. (3) for taxation of wages received during calendar years 1978, 1979, and 1980, decreased the applicable rate of tax from 1.25 percent to 1.10 percent, and struck out provision for 1.35 percent rate of tax for calendar years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(3), incorporated former provision of par. (4) for taxation of wages received during calendar years 1981 through 1985 at applicable 1.35 percent rate of tax and struck out provision for 1.45 percent rate of tax for wages received after Dec. 31, 1985.
- 1973 Pub. L. 93-233 Pub. L. 93–233, § 6(b)(3), incorporated former provision of par. (5) for taxation of wages received after Dec. 31, 1985 and increased the applicable rate of tax from 1.45 percent to 1.50 percent.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(3), increased rate to 1.0 percent from 0.9 percent.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-336 Pub. L. 92–336, § 204(b)(3), inserted references to 1976 and 1977 and substituted “0.9” for “0.65” in par. (2), substituted references for the calendar years 1978 through 1985 for references to the calendar years 1976 through 1979 and substituted “1.0” for “0.70” in par. (3), substituted references for the calendar years 1986 through 1992 for references to the calendars 1980 through 1986 and substituted “1.1” for “0.80” in par. (4), and substituted “1992” and “1986” and “1.2” for “0.9” in par. (5).
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(3), substituted “and 1980, the rate shall be 1.25 percent” for “1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, the rate shall be 1.0 percent”.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(3), substituted “1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, the rate shall be 1.35 percent” for “1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992, the rate shall be 1.1 percent”.
- 1972 Pub. L. 92-603 Pub. L. 92–603, § 135(b)(3), substituted “1985, the rate shall be 1.45 percent” for “1992, the rate shall be 1.2 percent”.
- 1968 Pub. L. 90-248 Pub. L. 90–248, § 109(b)(3), struck out par. (1) provision for employer rate of 0.35 percent of wages paid with respect to employment during calendar year 1966, redesignated pars. (2) to (6) as (1) to (5), struck out reference to “1967” in such par. (1) and increased the rate by 0.10 percent to 0.60, 0.65, 0.70, 0.80, and 0.90 in pars. (1) to (5), respectively.
- 1965 Pub. L. 89-97 Pub. L. 89–97, § 111(c)(6), struck out “, but without regard to the provisions of paragraph (9) thereof insofar as it relates to employees” after “as defined in section 3121(b)”.
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(c) Relief from taxes in cases covered by certain international agreements During any period in which there is in effect an agreement entered into pursuant to section 233 of the Social Security Act with any foreign country, wages received by or paid to an individual shall be exempt from the taxes imposed by this section to the extent that such wages are subject under such agreement exclusively to the laws applicable to the social security system of such foreign country.
Amended 1977, 2004
- 2004 Pub. L. 108-203 Pub. L. 108–203 substituted “exclusively to the laws applicable to” for “to taxes or contributions for similar purposes under”.
- 1977 Pub. L. 95-216 Pub. L. 95–216, § 317(b)(2), added subsec. (c).
[(d) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(b)(34), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1204]
Amended 2010, 2018
- 2018 Pub. L. 115-141 Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(34), struck out subsec. (d) which provided for a special exemption for certain individuals hired in 2010.
- 2010 Pub. L. 111-147 Pub. L. 111–147 added subsec. (d).
Cited by 1
(e) Credit for employment of qualified veterans
Amended 2011
- 2011 Pub. L. 112-56 Pub. L. 112–56 added subsec. (e).
Cited by 1
(1) In general If a qualified tax-exempt organization hires a qualified veteran with respect to whom a credit would be allowable under section 38 by reason of section 51 if the organization were not a qualified tax-exempt organization, then there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subsection (a) on wages paid with respect to employment of all employees of the organization during the applicable period an amount equal to the credit determined under section 51 (after application of the modifications under paragraph (3)) with respect to wages paid to such qualified veteran during such period.
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(2) Overall limitation The aggregate amount allowed as a credit under this subsection for all qualified veterans for any period with respect to which tax is imposed under subsection (a) shall not exceed the amount of the tax imposed by subsection (a) on wages paid with respect to employment of all employees of the organization during such period.
(3) Modifications For purposes of paragraph (1), section 51 shall be applied—
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(A) by substituting “26 percent” for “40 percent” in subsection (a) thereof,
(B) by substituting “16.25 percent” for “25 percent” in subsection (i)(3)(A) thereof, and
(C) by only taking into account wages paid to a qualified veteran for services in furtherance of the activities related to the purpose or function constituting the basis of the organization’s exemption under section 501.
(4) Applicable period The term “applicable period” means, with respect to any qualified veteran, the 1-year period beginning with the day such qualified veteran begins work for the organization.
(5) Definitions For purposes of this subsection—
(A) the term “qualified tax-exempt organization” means an employer that is an organization described in section 501(c) and exempt from taxation under section 501(a), and
(B) the term “qualified veteran” has the meaning given such term by section 51(d)(3).
Amended 2018
- 2018 Pub. L. 115-141 Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(a)(208), substituted “has the meaning” for “has meaning”.
(f) Credit for research expenditures of qualified small businesses
Amended 2015
- 2015 Pub. L. 114-113 Pub. L. 114–113 added subsec. (f).
Cited by 3
(1) In general In the case of a taxpayer who has made an election under section 41(h) for a taxable year—
Amended 2022
- 2022 Pub. L. 117-169 Pub. L. 117–169, § 13902(b)(1), substituted “for a taxable year—” for “for a taxable year,” and designated remainder of existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “equal to so much of the” for “equal to the” and “as does not exceed the limitation of subclause (I) of section 41(h)(4)(B)(i) (applied without regard to subclause (II) thereof), and” for period at end, and added subpar. (B).
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(A) there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subsection (a) for the first calendar quarter which begins after the date on which the taxpayer files the return specified in section 41(h)(4)(A)(ii) an amount equal to so much of the payroll tax credit portion determined under section 41(h)(2) as does not exceed the limitation of subclause (I) of section 41(h)(4)(B)(i) (applied without regard to subclause (II) thereof), and
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(B) there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subsection (b) for the first calendar quarter which begins after the date on which the taxpayer files the return specified in section 41(h)(4)(A)(ii) an amount equal to so much of the payroll tax credit portion determined under section 41(h)(2) as is not allowed as a credit under subparagraph (A).
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(2) Limitation The credit allowed by paragraph (1)(A) shall not exceed the tax imposed by subsection (a) for any calendar quarter, and the credit allowed by paragraph (1)(B) shall not exceed the tax imposed by subsection (b) for any calendar quarter, on the wages paid with respect to the employment of all individuals in the employ of the employer.
Amended 2022
- 2022 Pub. L. 117-169 Pub. L. 117–169, § 13902(b)(2), substituted “paragraph (1)(A)” for “paragraph (1)” and inserted “, and the credit allowed by paragraph (1)(B) shall not exceed the tax imposed by subsection (b) for any calendar quarter,” after “calendar quarter”.
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(3) Carryover of unused credit If the amount of any credit under paragraph (1) exceeds the limitation of paragraph (2) for any calendar quarter, such excess shall be carried to the succeeding calendar quarter and allowed as a credit under paragraph (1) for such quarter.
Amended 2022
- 2022 Pub. L. 117-169 Pub. L. 117–169, § 13902(b)(3), substituted “any credit” for “the credit”.
(4) Deduction allowed for credited amounts The credits allowed under paragraph (1) shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining the amount of any deduction allowed under chapter 1 for taxes imposed under subsection (a) or (b).
Amended 2022
- 2022 Pub. L. 117-169 Pub. L. 117–169, § 13902(b)(4), substituted “credits” for “credit” and “subsection (a) or (b)” for “subsection (a)”.