An employee recelves an hourly rate of $$45,$ with time and a half for all hours worked in excess of $40$ during the week. Payroll data for the current week are as follows: hours worked, $48$; federal income tax withheld, $$950$; Social security tax rate, $6\mathrm{.}0\%$; and Medicare tax rate, $1\mathrm{.}5\%$; state unemployment compensation tax, $5\mathrm{.}4\%$ on the first $$7,000$; federal unemployment compensation tax, $0\mathrm{.}8\%$ on the first $$7,000.$

Calculate the employer's payroll tax expense under the following circumstances. Round your answers to two decimal places.

a$.$ This is the first payroll of the year and the employee has no cumulative earnings for the year to date. $$.$

b$.$ The emploree's cumulative earrings for the year prior to this week equal $$6,200.$ s