What is a Pay Stub?

A pay stub is a notice, often attached to a pay check, that details how many hours an employee has worked, how much they've earned, and the amount of taxes that have been paid for a specific pay period. It is also known as a paycheck stub, paystub, and pay slip.

Pay stubs allow employers to pay employees correctly, maintain accurate records, and manage federal and state taxes. Pay stubs help employees to understand their taxes and contributions, and ensure that they have been paid the correct amount. It also serves as proof of income.

Since the advent of payroll software, most pay slips are automated and issued to employees online.

How to Fill Out a Pay Stub:

1. Calculate gross pay.

Gross pay refers to money owed to employees before deductions are made, and depends on whether an employee is paid hourly or monthly.

To calculate gross pay for hourly workers, multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours worked e.g. $11.70 x 40.00. To calculate the gross pay for an employee's monthly salary, divide the annual salary by the number of pay periods in a year e.g. $22,900.00 ÷ 12.

The first column of the pay stub shows the current gross pay, while the second column shows the year-to-date totals.

Hours worked:

Pay stubs can include the number of hours worked for both hourly and salary workers. In the case of additional hours worked, the number of regular hours, overtime, and double-time should be detailed separately.

Pay rate:

Note the hourly pay rate for hourly employees. For salaried employees, note the amount of pay due for the specific pay period. You should also note the increased pay rate if the employee has worked overtime or double-time.

Gross pay:

Gross pay should include regular wages, overtime, sick pay, holiday pay, bonuses, and payroll advances. In the two columns, list each form of income on a separate line.

2. Calculate taxes, deductions, and contributions.

On a pay stub, taxes and other deductions are itemized so that employees can see how much money has been taken off their earnings or gross pay. Taxes and deductions are also separated into two columns - current deductions and year-to-date totals.

Employee tax deductions:

These may include federal income tax, FICA tax, and state/local income taxes (depending on the state). List each tax on a separate line and show the amounts deducted for the current pay period and year-to-date.

Other payroll deductions:

This may include employee benefits and contributions such as insurance premiums and other voluntary deductions. List each deduction on its own line, and show current and year-to-date totals.

Employer contributions:

This reflects the amount contributed by the employer to certain taxes and employee benefits, such as insurance premiums and healthcare. List each contribution on a separate line.

3. Calculate net pay.

Net pay is the final amount after all deductions have been made from the gross pay. This is known as the employee's take-home pay. The net pay is the final amount on an employee's paycheck which is deposited directly into their bank account. The pay stub should also show current net pay for the pay period and the year-to-date total.