Is there a way to completely avoid social security and medicare taxes?

Question

Since I will not be drawing any social security, I am looking for a legal way for a w-2 wage earner or a self employed person to not have to pay in FICA taxes.

Answer 1

1. If you belong to a recognized religious sect that is opposed to insurance, you may qualify for an exemption from social security and medicare tax. You must be conscientiously opposed to accepting the benefits of any public or private insurance. Religious opposition based on the teachings of the sect is the only legal basis for the exemption.

2. If you're a college student and work for your college, your earnings are exempt from social security and medicare tax.

3. If you're under 18 and work for your parent's business, your earnings are exempt from social security and medicare tax.

Answer 2

There is no way for a W-2 wage earner to avoid these taxes.

There are two ways for a self-employed person to avoid these taxes:
1. Keep your income from self-employment low enough so that you are not required to file Schedule SE.
2. File Form 4029 for an exemption. You can do this only if you have conscientious objections to social security, not if you are merely trying to save money. Also, you must be a member of a religious sect that has been around since 1950 or earlier and meets various other requirements.

Answer 3

Quit working for a living. Make all of your money on investments. Unearned income is not subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes.

The only way for a W-2 wage earner or self-employed individual to avoid SS and Med taxes is if they belong to one of a very few religious sects that eschew insurance and any type of public support. A few (but not all) Mennonite and Amish groups qualify. I can guarantee you that you won't just walk in and join!

FYI, contrary to what a few folks said, moving to another country will NOT get you off the hook! US citizens are subject to US tax laws regardless of where they live. If you relinquish your citizenship keep in mind that the IRS can go after you for 10 years for taxes if they suspect that the reason for your move is to avoid US taxes.

Answer 4

Become a public school teacher whose salary is subject to teacher retirement but not Social Security and you will avoid that but not Medicare. The only other options are to be self-employed join the Amish--you would look cute in their neat old timey hats--or become a clergyman and exercise your one time right to opt out of Social Security.

Answer 5

Yes, there are many ways of avoiding US taxes:

1) Move to Canada
2) Quit working
3) Commit tax fraud
4) Move to Mexico
5) Find a sugar mamma or a sugar daddy to pay them for you
6) Work "under the table" (illegally)
7) Move to Russia

If you follow Jerry's advice above, write to me from prison when you arrive. I'd like to know how you're doing.

Also, contrary to what Bostonian said above, you WILL pay US income taxes in a foreign country, but you will avoid the social security taxes.

Answer 6

Yes. You can become a "compensated preacher".

If you work for an approved church, you can claim conscientious objector and you will be exempt from the FICA tax on your wages earned by working for the church.

Of course, you will probably also earn about poverty level wages.

SUCK IT UP, whiner.

Answer 7

1) Do not have any income --- these are payroll taxes, so no income no tax.
2) Move to a country that does not collect taxes.
3) Work for the Repeal and destruction of these two Ponzi schemes

Answer 8

If you are a citizen of this country, you should contribute to social security and medicare taxes like the rest of us do. If you are NOT a citizen of this country, THEN GO HOME!!!!!

Answer 9

Believe it or not, there are ways to avoid Soc Sec and Medicare tax. Here are two:

1. Go to work for the city of Galveston, Tx. They opted not to participate in Soc Sec coverage many years ago, and set up their own internally financed system. Their employees are way ahead of you and me! There are other places who have done the same.

2. Get work as a US Senator or Congressman. They have their own little private system (paid for by you). As they do on almost any law they pass, they exempt themselves from any onerous facet of the law.

regards,
A Texian who once had a country of his own.

Answer 10

the only way to avoid paying taxes is to die or leave the country...however, the country you move to will collect taxes for their own country...it's like the old saying, "the only thing true in life are death and taxes"...good luck!!! you could also become homeless and not work for a living...