The Social Security Administration (SSA) just announced two key updates for 2026: the new cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and the updated Social Security tax wage base.
You’ve probably heard a lot about the COLA, but fewer people realize there’s a cap on how much of your earnings are subject to the Social Security payroll tax. This “wage base" (also known as the Social Security tax limit or wage cap) sets the maximum amount of income that can be taxed to help fund the program each year.
