FICA & Medicare Payroll Tax Rates for 2013. 2013 FICA and Medicare Tax Rates. The rate is 7.65% in total: 6.2% for the Social Security portion and 1.45% for Medicare. FYI, this had been reduced by 2% to 4.2% over the past few years as part of payroll tax holiday to help with the economic recovery. Social Security.