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June 6, 2022
2022-0873

Social Security Administration publishes wage base projections for 2023 through 2031

For those responsible for employment tax budgets, or just curious what the future may hold, following are the estimated Social Security wage-base limits for employers and employees for calendar years 2022 through 2030 as recently published by the Social Security Administration (SSA). (2022 Social Security Board of Trustees, Press Release, 6-2-2022;The 2022 OASDI Trustees Report, Table V.C.I.)

In reviewing the chart shown on the following page, keep in mind that the SSA provides three estimates — high, intermediate, and low. For 2022, the actual wage base is $147,000, higher than the projected intermediate and high-cost estimate of $146,700 and higher than the low- cost estimate of $147,300 in the August 2021 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees. (See EY Tax Alert 2021-1601.)

The June 2022 projections reflect an estimated increase in 2023 to $155,100 for intermediate, high-cost and low-cost.

Projections concerning length of trust funds' solvency

The Social Security Board of Trustees reported that the combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust Funds are projected to be depleted in 2035, one year later than was estimated last year.

The wage base projections are provided below.

Projected Social Security wage base information as provided by the SSA in June 2022

Calendar year

Intermediate

estimated wage base $

Low-cost

estimated wage base $

High-cost

estimated wage base $

2022 (actual)

147,000

147,000

147,000

2023

155,100

155,100

155,100

2024

165,300

166,200

162,300

2025

173,400

177,300

165,000

2026

180,600

187,500

170,100

2027

188,100

197,100

175,200

2028

195,600

207,000

180,600

2029

203,100

217,500

185,700

2030

210,600

228,300

190,200

2031

218,400

239,700

195,000

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Contact Information
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
 
Workforce Tax Services - Employment Tax Advisory Services
   • Kristie Lowery (kristie.lowery@ey.com)
   • Kenneth Hausser (kenneth.hausser@ey.com)
   • Debera Salam (debera.salam@ey.com)
Compensation and Benefits
   • Christa Bierma (christa.bierma@ey.com)

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