On my w4 my federal withholding tax is less then my medicare & social security taxes why???

[littleluker]

on the w2 the federal income tax is not the same amount as the medicare & social security does that mean that i'm claming 1 person or is there a mistake

[SamiaI]

Did you contribute to a retirement plan, like a 401 K?

[littleluker]

yes 401  k

[littleluker]

why don't they take federal taxes out of the 401k

[SamiaI]

Federal taxes will be taken out when you withdraw the money.

[littleluker]

Ok Thank You very much

[SamiaI · Accepted solution]

If you contribute to a retirement plan, like a 401 K, you don't pay federal tax on the amount you contribute but you do pay social security and medicare tax on it. That is why the amount in Box 1, will be different than what is in the social security and medicare tax box (you do pay social security and medicare tax on the full amount).