Frequently asked questions
- What is PayslipIQ USA?
- PayslipIQ USA is a free, plain-English platform that helps American workers understand their pay stubs and paychecks. It includes a Pay Stub Checker, Paycheck Calculator, Gross to Net Calculator, Hourly and Salary converters, a Year-to-Date checker, and explainer pages for federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, 401(k), HSA, FSA, overtime, and bonuses. PayslipIQ provides educational guidance only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, accounting, employment, or payroll advice.
- How is PayslipIQ different from SmartAsset, NerdWallet, or ADP?
- PayslipIQ is worker-first and education-first. There are no loan funnels, credit card upsells, or B2B payroll software pitches. Every page explains the math, links to the relevant IRS or state agency, and tells you what the tool cannot confirm. See the comparison at /us/why-payslipiq/.
- Is PayslipIQ affiliated with the IRS, SSA, or any state tax authority?
- No. PayslipIQ is an independent, privately built educational resource. It is not affiliated with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor, any state tax agency, any employer, or any payroll provider. Always verify important paycheck matters with an official source or a qualified professional.
- Where do the numbers come from?
- Federal income tax withholding uses IRS Publication 15-T 2026 percentage method tables. FICA uses the current Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026) and Medicare rate (1.45%, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000 for single filers). State withholding follows each state’s published 2026 guidance. See the Methodology page for the full source register.
- How private is the AI Pay Stub Checker?
- Uploaded files are processed over encrypted transport. SSNs and bank account numbers are redacted before processing. Files are purged within 24 hours on the free tier. PayslipIQ does not sell user data and does not train AI models on user pay stubs. See the AI Transparency and Privacy pages for the full disclosure.
- Does PayslipIQ work outside the USA?
- This section of the site is built specifically for American workers. PayslipIQ also operates separate sites for other countries; this hub at /us/ is the canonical US entry point.
Paycheck help for US workers
Every pay stub, every paycheck, in plain English.
PayslipIQ USA is the canonical hub for American workers who want to understand their paycheck. Pay stub checker, paycheck calculator, FICA explainer, W-4 guide, and a guide for every state. Educational only, not advice.
Numbers shown are estimates. Your real paycheck depends on your employer, your benefits, and your W-4. Verify with payroll, the IRS, or your state authority before relying on anything.
Tools
Free. No account. No upsell on the basics.
Pay Stub Checker
Upload a pay stub or paste numbers. Plain-English line-by-line walkthrough.
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate take-home pay. Federal, FICA, state. All 50 states + DC.
Gross to Net Calculator
Any gross paycheck → estimated take-home. 2026 tables.
Salary After Tax
Annual salary to bi-weekly or monthly take-home.
Hourly to Salary
Hourly rate → annual equivalent. State aware.
Year-to-Date Checker
YTD wages, FICA caps, Add'l Medicare, 401(k) progress.
Local Tax Calculator
NYC, Yonkers, Philly, Detroit, Ohio cities and more.
Ask Payroll Generator
Draft a polite, factual message to HR or payroll.
Topic explainers
Plain-English guides to every major line on a US pay stub.
By state
Each state has a paycheck guide, a state income tax page, an overtime page, and a pay stub laws page.
How a US paycheck is built
Five things shape what lands in your bank account every pay period. Federal law sets the first three. State and city add the next two. Your own choices fill in the rest.
Federal income tax comes off first, calculated using the IRS Publication 15-T method against what you wrote on your W-4. Then FICA: 6.2 percent Social Security up to the annual wage base, plus 1.45 percent Medicare on every dollar. An extra 0.9 percent Medicare kicks in once year-to-date wages cross $200,000 single or $250,000 married filing jointly.
State income tax varies. Nine states do not levy one (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming). Several use flat rates. The rest run progressive brackets. Local tax applies in a few jurisdictions: New York City, Yonkers, Philadelphia, Detroit, and many Ohio cities.
The remaining lines are yours. Pre-tax deductions like traditional 401(k), HSA, and Section 125 health insurance reduce taxable wages. Post-tax items like Roth 401(k), garnishments, and after-tax life insurance come off net.
Frequently asked
- What is PayslipIQ USA?
- PayslipIQ USA is a free, plain-English platform that helps American workers understand their pay stubs and paychecks. It includes a Pay Stub Checker, Paycheck Calculator, Gross to Net Calculator, Hourly and Salary converters, a Year-to-Date checker, and explainer pages for federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax, 401(k), HSA, FSA, overtime, and bonuses. PayslipIQ provides educational guidance only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, accounting, employment, or payroll advice.
- How is PayslipIQ different from SmartAsset, NerdWallet, or ADP?
- PayslipIQ is worker-first and education-first. There are no loan funnels, credit card upsells, or B2B payroll software pitches. Every page explains the math, links to the relevant IRS or state agency, and tells you what the tool cannot confirm. See the comparison at /us/why-payslipiq/.
- Is PayslipIQ affiliated with the IRS, SSA, or any state tax authority?
- No. PayslipIQ is an independent, privately built educational resource. It is not affiliated with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor, any state tax agency, any employer, or any payroll provider. Always verify important paycheck matters with an official source or a qualified professional.
- Where do the numbers come from?
- Federal income tax withholding uses IRS Publication 15-T 2026 percentage method tables. FICA uses the current Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026) and Medicare rate (1.45%, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000 for single filers). State withholding follows each state’s published 2026 guidance. See the Methodology page for the full source register.
- How private is the AI Pay Stub Checker?
- Uploaded files are processed over encrypted transport. SSNs and bank account numbers are redacted before processing. Files are purged within 24 hours on the free tier. PayslipIQ does not sell user data and does not train AI models on user pay stubs. See the AI Transparency and Privacy pages for the full disclosure.
- Does PayslipIQ work outside the USA?
- This section of the site is built specifically for American workers. PayslipIQ also operates separate sites for other countries; this hub at /us/ is the canonical US entry point.
What this is not
PayslipIQ is a reading guide and a calculator. Not a CPA. Not a payroll provider. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with the IRS, the SSA, or any state tax authority. If a number on your stub is wrong, raise it with payroll. If you need filing advice, see a CPA.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, accounting, employment, benefits, or payroll advice. PayslipIQ is not a CPA firm, law firm, financial advisor, payroll provider, or tax authority. Always verify your paycheck, deductions, withholdings, and tax position with your employer's payroll department, a qualified CPA, the IRS, your state tax authority, or another appropriately qualified professional. Calculations are estimates; your actual paycheck may differ based on factors specific to your employer, location, benefits elections, and personal tax situation.