TRUTH TEST: Scott Accuses Nelson of Not Paying Federal Taxes Palm Beach Gardens, FL - In Commitment 2018 headlines, a look at the U.S. Senate race. Taxes are often a big issue in politics, and Governor Rick Scott is accusing Senator Bill Nelson of not even paying his taxes. We put that claim through the Truth Test. In this political ad, Governor Scott goes right for the political jugular, accusing Senator Nelson of not paying payroll taxes for his campaign team: "But career-politician Bill Nelson does not think that rule applies to him. News reports reveal that Nelson doesn't pay payroll taxes for his employees," said the ad's narrator. "Bill Nelson increases your taxes, but he doesn't pay his own." Is Nelson not paying payroll taxes for his employees? The Truth Meter calls this FALSE. Here's why: Nelson did not have to pay that tax for the people who work for him. Technically, for months his campaign team was made up of contractors, essentially freelancers, and employers don't pay payroll tax for contracted, freelance work. Keep in mind, it wasn't until recently when the Nelson camp even hired any full-time staffers. And a source confirmed with me that they are currently paying payroll tax for those full-time employees just as the I.R.S. requires. So, the Scott ad got this part wrong. Now, the next section. "Payroll taxes - employers must pay them for their employees. That's what funds Medicare and Social Security," said the ad's narrator. The Truth Meter says this is TRUE. A little payroll tax refresher for you: Full-time employees pay 15.3% payroll tax to Uncle Sam. 7.65% comes out of your check, and your employer has to pay the rest. And yes, that money is what funds Social Security and Medicare. So Scott got that part right. Overall, this ad is FALSE. Bottom line - Nelson is paying proper taxes, and Scott is not comparing apples with apples. Payroll tax only applies to full-time employees. And that's your Truth Test.