What is the difference between payroll taxes expense and withholding taxes?

Payroll taxes expense refers to the total cost incurred by an employer for payroll taxes, which includes Social Security, Medicare, and federal and state unemployment taxes, based on employee wages. Withholding taxes, on the other hand, are the amounts deducted from an employee's paycheck for income taxes and other contributions, such as Social Security and Medicare, which the employer then remits to the government on behalf of the employee. Essentially, payroll taxes expense is the employer's liability, while withholding taxes represent the employee's obligation that the employer collects and pays.