A payroll tax is a percentage of the employee’s wages, salaries, and tips withheld by the employer and paid to the government on behalf of the employee. For example, federal payroll taxes are deducted from the employee’s earnings and paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Payroll taxes are designated to fund specific government programs and income taxes are paid to the U.S. (or state) treasury for general expenses. For example, federal payroll taxes are deducted to fund Medicare and Social Security programs; are known as Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes; and are labeled as MedFICA and FICA on employee pay stubs. Payroll taxes are levied only up to a certain income level, and any income above that level is not subject to payroll taxes.

Although the employer is responsible for payment of payroll taxes, income tax is the employee’s responsibility. For federal income taxes the employer will typically withhold a percentage of the employee’s wages based on the federal withholding table and submit the funds withheld to the U.S. treasury—but it is the employee’s responsibility to pay any additional income tax due by the April 15 deadline—or to seek a refund if the amounts withheld by the employer are more than the employee owes. Most states and some cities and counties also impose income taxes—much of which may be withheld by the employer and paid to state, city, or county treasury.

Self-employed persons are also required to remit payroll taxes, and these are referred to as self-employment taxes.

In Tennessee, payroll taxes consist of federal taxes withheld from an employee's earnings to fund government programs such as Social Security and Medicare, known as FICA taxes. These taxes are withheld by the employer and paid to the IRS. Payroll taxes are subject to an income cap, beyond which earnings are not taxed. While employers handle the withholding and payment of payroll taxes, income tax liability ultimately falls on the employee. Employers withhold a portion of wages for federal income taxes based on federal guidelines and remit this to the U.S. Treasury. Employees must ensure they pay any additional taxes due by April 15 or file for a refund if over-withheld. Tennessee does not have a state income tax, so there are no state payroll taxes withheld. However, self-employed individuals in Tennessee are responsible for paying self-employment taxes to cover their Social Security and Medicare contributions.