The total wages and salaries earned by all employees of Phillips Manufacturing Co. during the month of February, as shown in the labor cost summary and the schedule of fixed administrative and sales salaries, are classified as follows:

Direct labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $526,125

Indirect labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126,210

Administrative salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104,200

Sales salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127,500

Total wages earned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $884,035

a. Prepare a journal entry to distribute the wages earned during February.

b. What is the total amount of payroll taxes that will be imposed on the employer for the payroll, assuming that three administrative employees with combined earnings this period of $4,500 have exceeded $8,000 in earnings prior to the period?