The 2006 contribution rate; also known as the FICA tax rate, is 7.65% for employees, and 15.30% for self-employed People. The rates are broken out as follows:

• 6.2% (Social Security portion) on earnings up to the maximum taxable amount ($97,500 in 2007)
• 1.45% (Medicare portion) on all earnings

Set by law, these rates haven't changed since 1990.