Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to Re: And who pays for your National Social Security?

Then you pay it
Larry J — (archived)

One of the bigger fictions in life is that "the job pays for it."

Here in the US, we're taxed at about 6.65% of our income for Social Security and roughly 1% for Medicare tax. Our employers pay the same amount (unless someone is self employed, then they get to pay all 15.3%).

The fiction is that the employer is actually paying for it. In truth, the employer is concerned about the total cost of employing someone, not just the salary. Add it all up: salary, benefits, vacation, taxes, and you get the total cost of employing someone.

The fiction is that if the employer pays it, then you don't have to. The truth is that you get paid a lower salary because the true cost of employing you is high due to all those taxes. You also pay for it in higher prices for the things made in your country. The higher costs get passed along in the prices.

There still isn't a free lunch. There never has been one. Someone always has to pay for it.

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