Accruing Employer FICA Taxes

One component of the payroll taxes you deposit with the government is FICA tax (made up of Social Security and Medicare taxes) One-half of the FICA you pay is withheld from employees; the other half is your share (an expense of the business). If you have payroll taxes due at the end of an accounting period that will be paid next period, you should accrue the employer share of FICA that is due at period end. This is done with an adjusting entry in your general journal.

As an example of accrued FICA taxes, let's say that on January 4, 2012, you deposit payroll taxes due as of December 31, 2011. The deposit includes FICA taxes of $420.50. One-half of that ($210.25) is the employer share that has not yet been recorded on the books. Make the following general journal entry:

	Debit	Credit
Payroll taxes expense	210.25
Payroll taxes payable		210.25
To accrue employer share of FICA owed but unpaid on 12/31/2011