The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program is a federal program to help distressed homeowners retain their homes. Payments received under the program usually are not taxable. They are treated as payments on the mortgage loans by the government on behalf of borrowers and are excludable from gross income under the general welfare doctrine.
Tax paid by self-employed persons to finance Social Security coverage. In 2007, there are two rates. A 12.4% rate applies to a taxable earnings base of $95,700 or less and a 2.9% rate applies to all net earnings.