Pay Stub Guide
The Complete Pay Stub Guide
Everything you need to understand pay stubs, from the sections they contain to how to prepare a professional document.
What is a pay stub?
A pay stub is a document that details an employee’s earnings for a specific pay period. It records gross pay, the taxes and other amounts withheld, and the resulting net pay. Pay stubs are commonly used as a record of wages and as proof of income.
Sections of a pay stub
Employer and employee details
Business name and address, and the employee’s name and identifying information.
Pay period and pay date
The range of dates the payment covers and the date the payment was issued.
Earnings
Gross pay for the period, which may include regular pay and any additional earnings.
Deductions
Federal and state tax withholdings, Social Security and Medicare, and any voluntary deductions.
Net pay
The take-home amount remaining after all deductions.
Year-to-date totals
Cumulative earnings and deductions for the year, shown on many pay stub layouts.
How to prepare a pay stub with PayStubPro
- Open the PayStubPro application with Generate Now.
- Enter accurate employer, employee, earnings and deduction information.
- Review all details for accuracy.
- Complete your document and download the professional PDF.
Responsible use
Pay stubs should only be prepared by authorized users with accurate information that reflects real wages. This guide is educational and does not constitute payroll, tax or legal advice.
Prepare your pay stub
Find the guide for your payroll question
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Read a pay stub line by line
to identify earnings, deductions and payment details.
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Compare gross pay and net pay
before matching wages to a deposit.
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Understand employee paycheck deductions
and distinguish their tax treatment.
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Understand current pay and YTD totals
before adding a payment to prior records.
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Review federal income-tax withholding
and the inputs behind the federal tax line.
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Choose between a pay stub and a W-2
when a requester specifies payroll documents.
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Distinguish pay stubs, invoices and 1099 records
for employee and contractor documentation.
Related payroll calculators and records
Review wages, withholding and deductions against your records. Use the free tools for an estimate, then create a document only from accurate, authorized payroll information.
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