Paystub guides
Everything you need to understand a pay stub — the lines, the abbreviations, and the rules — explained in plain English.
How to Read a Paystub
Every line on a pay stub explained: gross pay, taxes, deductions, net pay, and those year-to-date columns.
Paystub Abbreviations Explained
FICA, OASDI, YTD, OT, FED, SS, MED — what all those pay-stub codes actually mean.
Gross Pay vs Net Pay
Gross pay is what you earn; net pay is what you take home. Here's exactly what happens in between.
What Is YTD on a Paystub?
YTD means year-to-date — the running total of your earnings and deductions for the calendar year.
How Many Paystubs Do I Need for an Apartment?
Most landlords want your two or three most recent pay stubs. Here's why, and what to do if you don't have them.
Are Paystub Generators Legal?
Creating a pay stub from real income is legitimate. Falsifying income is not. Here's the line.
How to Calculate Net Pay From Gross Pay
Start with gross pay, subtract federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state tax, then any deductions. Here's the exact order.
W-2 vs 1099: What It Means for Your Pay
W-2 employees have taxes withheld and get pay stubs; 1099 contractors are paid in full and document their own income.
How to Prove Income When You're Self-Employed
No employer, no automatic pay stub — here are the documents that establish self-employment income and how to combine them.
How to Show Proof of Income Without Pay Stubs
No pay stubs? Bank statements, tax returns, an offer letter, and a summarized earnings statement can all establish income.
Paycheck vs Paystub: What's the Difference?
A paycheck is the payment; a pay stub is the itemized record that explains it. Here's how they relate.