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

Direct labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625,125

Indirect labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 162,120

Administrative salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 140,200

Sales salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....172,500

Total wages earned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,099,945

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

b. What is the total amount of payroll taxes that will be imposed on the employer for the payroll, assuming that two administrative employees with combined earnings this period of $3,000 have exceeded $8,000 in earnings prior to the period?