---
title: IRS Data Affirms Payroll’s Vital Role in Nation’s Tax System
description: IRS releases annual Data Book (Pub. 55B), which highlights the role payroll plays in the tax system.
image: https://www.americanpayroll.org/images/default-source/default-album/databook61e789ffcb9243398c407028760db61f.jpg?sfvrsn=1e2a412e_0
---

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By [PayrollOrg Staff](https://blogs.payroll.org/pay-news-now/author/apa-staff) on May 23, 2019 11:06:35 AM

# IRS Data Affirms Payroll’s Vital Role in Nation’s Tax System

On May 20, the IRS released its [**2018 *Internal Revenue Service Data Book***](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/18databk.pdf), which provides statistics that underscore the importance of payroll professionals to the integrity of the American tax system \[IRS Pub. 55B, rev. May 2019\].

**Primary Source of Federal Revenue**

The *IRS Data Book* reports that, of the $3.47 trillion paid into the Treasury in FY 2018, $2.42 trillion was transmitted by employers for employment taxes. This represents nearly 70% of all federal revenue.

Payroll payments included:

- $1.35 trillion in withheld individual income taxes
- $1.05 trillion in employer and employee FICA (social security and Medicare) taxes
- $8.8 billion in unemployment insurance tax
- $6.3 billion in Railroad Retirement Tax Act taxes

To learn more about federal and state laws, regulations, and information to keep your company's payroll operations in compliance, check out [**Payroll Source Plus**](https://ebiz.americanpayroll.org/ebusiness/ProductCatalog/Product.aspx?ID=6067)!

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