If you’re a farmer or rancher hiring employees for the first time, setting up payroll can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry — we’ll walk you through the basics of payroll taxes, how often you need to pay them, and what’s different between federal, state, and local rules.
What Are These Payroll Taxes, Anyway?
When you run payroll, both the employee and employer are responsible for different taxes. These are either withheld from the employee’s paycheck or paid on top of what the employer already pays the employee.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
Employee Pay Details
Item | Description |
Gross Pay | The total amount your employee earns before taxes. |
Employee Federal Income Tax | The money withheld for the employee’s federal taxes. |
Employee Social Security | 6.2% of wages, up to a set limit (federal cap). |
Employee Medicare | 1.45% of wages. No cap. |
Employee Taxes & Deductions Total | The full amount taken out of their paycheck. |
Employer Tax Contributions
Item | Description |
6% of the first $7,000 in wages per employee per year, often reduced with state credits. | |
Employer Social Security | You match what the employee pays: 6.2%. |
Employer Medicare | You also match 1.45%. |
Varies by state. Often due quarterly. | |
State Income Taxes | If your state collects income tax, you must withhold it from your employee’s paycheck. |
How Often Do I Have to Pay These Taxes?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — it depends on the type of tax and the size of your payroll. Here’s the general idea:
Federal Payroll Tax Schedules
Federal Income, Social Security, and Medicare:
Deposited monthly or semi-weekly based on how much tax you pay.FUTA (Federal Unemployment):
Usually paid quarterly (end of March, June, September, and December).
Every state is different.
Some states require monthly income tax withholding.
Others require quarterly unemployment tax filings.
A few states don’t have state income tax at all.
✅ Tip: FarmRaise Payroll will help you determine your exact payment schedule and file for you if you're a FarmRaise Premium + Payroll customer!
How Do I Know What My Tax Rates Are?
Federal rates (like Social Security and Medicare) are the same for everyone.
FUTA starts at 6% on the first $7,000 of wages but may be reduced based on your state.
State rates vary a lot — especially for unemployment taxes. You’ll usually get a letter from your state labor or revenue department assigning your rate.
If you don’t have that letter, FarmRaise Payroll can help you request one when you’re onboarding.
What’s the Difference Between Employee and Employer Contributions?
Who Pays? | What They Cover |
Employee | Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), State income tax (if applicable). |
Employer | Matches Social Security and Medicare, pays FUTA, and pays State Unemployment Tax. |
FarmRaise Payroll calculates both sides for you, so your only job is to keep enough funds available for each payroll run.
Final Advice for First-Time Farm Employers
Use a payroll system like FarmRaise to take care of calculations, deadlines, and filings.
Start small. You don’t need to understand every rule — just focus on getting set up legally and filing on time.
Ask for help. Reach out to FarmRaise Support if you’re unsure about your tax account setup or rates.
Want to get started with Payroll today? Schedule a setup call with the FarmRaise team or check out our step-by-step onboarding guide.