New Medicare Tax: Watch Out for Withholding Issues

Under the recent health care act, starting in 2013, taxpayers with earned income over $200,000 per year ($250,000 for joint filers and $125,000 for married filing separately) must pay an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on the excess earnings. Employers are required to withhold the tax beginning in the pay period in which wages exceed $200,000 for the calendar year — without regard to the employee’s filing status or income from other sources. So, it’s possible your employer:

• Will withhold the tax even though you aren’t liable for it. You can’t ask your employer to stop withholding the tax, but you can claim a credit on your income tax return.
• Won’t withhold the tax even though you are liable for it. You may use a Form W-4 to request additional income tax withholding to cover your liability and avoid interest and penalties.

Contact Doeren Mayhew for more information.