Frequently asked questions
- What does the Pay Stub Checker do?
- It walks through every line on a US pay stub in plain English: gross pay, federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, local tax (where it applies), pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and HSA, post-tax deductions like Roth and garnishments, employer contributions, and net pay. The goal is to help you read the stub and ask the right question, not to tell you whether the paycheck is right.
- Can it confirm my paycheck is correct?
- No. The Pay Stub Checker is educational only. It cannot confirm that your employer is calculating your paycheck correctly. If a line looks wrong, raise it with payroll. If you need a binding answer, see a CPA, the IRS, or your state tax authority.
- Is uploading a pay stub safe?
- PayslipIQ processes uploads over encrypted transport. Bank account numbers and Social Security numbers are redacted before processing. Free-tier files are purged within 24 hours. PayslipIQ does not sell user data and does not train AI models on user pay stubs. Before you upload, cover or remove personal identifiers like SSN, bank details, address, employee ID, employer reference numbers, QR codes, and barcodes.
- What if the AI upload is unavailable?
- If the AI uploader is offline (for example because access is in private beta), you can still use the PayslipIQ Paycheck Calculator to estimate every line manually. Enter your gross pay, state, and filing status, and the calculator returns the same breakdown the AI explainer would produce.
- Does it support all 50 states?
- Yes. The Pay Stub Checker recognises state income tax for all 50 states plus DC, and local tax in the major jurisdictions: New York City, Yonkers, Philadelphia, Detroit, and many Ohio cities (RITA and CCA), plus several Indiana and Maryland counties.
- Is this affiliated with the IRS or any state?
- No. PayslipIQ is an independent, privately built educational resource. It is not affiliated with the IRS, the SSA, the Department of Labor, any state tax agency, any employer, or any payroll provider.
- Is there a Spanish version?
- A Spanish beta is available at /es/. Coverage will expand over time. The English version at /us/ remains the canonical USA hub.
- How is this different from a paycheck calculator?
- A paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay from gross. The Pay Stub Checker reads an actual pay stub and explains each line that already exists on it. They complement each other: estimate forward with the calculator, then verify what is on the stub with the checker.
- Is there a way to verify a pay stub?
- You can sanity-check a pay stub yourself: confirm gross pay matches your rate and hours, check that Social Security is 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare is 1.45%, and that gross pay minus every listed deduction equals the net pay shown. PayslipIQ walks through each of these. A checker cannot legally certify a stub; only your employer, payroll provider, or a CPA can confirm the underlying figures.
- How do I look up my pay stub?
- Most US employers post pay stubs in a payroll portal such as ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Workday, or Rippling. Log in to the portal your employer uses, or ask your HR or payroll team how to access past stubs. PayslipIQ does not store or retrieve employer pay stubs; it only explains a stub you already have.
- Can a landlord or lender detect a fake pay stub?
- Often yes. Landlords and lenders cross-check stubs against bank deposits, tax transcripts, and direct employer verification, and inconsistent math or formatting is a common giveaway. Submitting a fabricated pay stub is fraud and can carry serious legal consequences. PayslipIQ does not create stubs; it helps you understand and check a genuine one.
- How can I get my pay stubs online for free?
- Through your employer payroll portal, which is free to employees. If you have left a job, you can often still log in for a period or request copies from the former employer. Be cautious of paid sites that offer to generate stubs: a generated stub is not a record of real pay. PayslipIQ is free and explains a real stub rather than producing one.
USA · 2026 · Educational only
Pay Stub Checker
Have a real pay stub you do not fully understand? PayslipIQ reads it with you, line by line, in plain English, so you can see what each deduction is and check it against the 2026 tax numbers. PayslipIQ does not create or generate pay stubs. It helps you make sense of a genuine one. Educational only.
In plain English
A pay stub checker walks through every line on a US pay stub in plain English: gross pay, federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare (FICA), state and local tax, pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or HSA, post-tax deductions, and net pay. PayslipIQ explains what each line is and what to verify, so you can read your stub and ask payroll the right question. It is educational only and cannot confirm your paycheck is correct.
What PayslipIQ is
- An explainer for a pay stub you already have
- A line-by-line, plain-English walkthrough
- A way to check each figure against the 2026 tax numbers
- Independent, free, and educational
What PayslipIQ is not
- A pay stub generator or maker
- A way to create or fake a stub you do not have
- Tax, legal, or payroll advice
- Affiliated with the IRS, a state, or your employer
Before you upload
Cover or remove your Social Security number, bank account number, address, employee ID, employer reference numbers, QR codes, and barcodes. PayslipIQ redacts SSNs and bank numbers automatically, but removing them yourself first is the safest practice.
AI Pay Stub Explainer
Upload a pay stub (PDF, PNG, JPG) or paste your paycheck numbers below. The AI uploader is currently in private beta. If it is unavailable, use the manual fallback below. It gives the same line-by-line breakdown and the same methodology.
What the checker looks at
- Gross pay vs YTD gross
- Federal income tax withholding (IRS Pub 15-T method)
- Social Security tax (6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500)
- Medicare tax (1.45%) + Additional Medicare (0.9% above $200,000 single)
- State income tax (where applicable, 41 states + DC)
- Local income tax (NYC, Yonkers, Philadelphia, Detroit, Ohio RITA/CCA, and more)
- Pre-tax deductions: traditional 401(k), HSA, FSA, Section 125 health premiums
- Post-tax deductions: Roth 401(k), wage garnishments, after-tax life insurance
- Employer contributions (informational; do not reduce your pay)
- Net pay (take-home)
How it works
- Have your pay stub ready. Open the most recent pay stub from your employer payroll portal (ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Workday, etc.) or a paper copy.
- Cover personal identifiers. Before any upload, cover or remove your Social Security number, bank details, address, employee ID, QR codes, and barcodes.
- Upload or paste numbers. Upload the pay stub file (PDF, PNG, JPG) when the AI uploader is enabled, or paste paycheck numbers into the Paycheck Calculator as a fallback.
- Read the line-by-line walkthrough. Each line of the stub gets a plain-English explanation: what it is, what it is calculated against, and what to verify.
- Verify anything that looks wrong. If a number does not match expectations, take the explanation to your payroll team and ask the right question.
Privacy
Files are processed over encrypted transport. SSNs and bank account numbers are redacted before processing. Free-tier files are purged within 24 hours. PayslipIQ does not sell user data and does not train AI models on user pay stubs. See theAI TransparencyandPrivacypages for the full disclosure.
Frequently asked
- What does the Pay Stub Checker do?
- It walks through every line on a US pay stub in plain English: gross pay, federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, local tax (where it applies), pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and HSA, post-tax deductions like Roth and garnishments, employer contributions, and net pay. The goal is to help you read the stub and ask the right question, not to tell you whether the paycheck is right.
- Can it confirm my paycheck is correct?
- No. The Pay Stub Checker is educational only. It cannot confirm that your employer is calculating your paycheck correctly. If a line looks wrong, raise it with payroll. If you need a binding answer, see a CPA, the IRS, or your state tax authority.
- Is uploading a pay stub safe?
- PayslipIQ processes uploads over encrypted transport. Bank account numbers and Social Security numbers are redacted before processing. Free-tier files are purged within 24 hours. PayslipIQ does not sell user data and does not train AI models on user pay stubs. Before you upload, cover or remove personal identifiers like SSN, bank details, address, employee ID, employer reference numbers, QR codes, and barcodes.
- What if the AI upload is unavailable?
- If the AI uploader is offline (for example because access is in private beta), you can still use the PayslipIQ Paycheck Calculator to estimate every line manually. Enter your gross pay, state, and filing status, and the calculator returns the same breakdown the AI explainer would produce.
- Does it support all 50 states?
- Yes. The Pay Stub Checker recognises state income tax for all 50 states plus DC, and local tax in the major jurisdictions: New York City, Yonkers, Philadelphia, Detroit, and many Ohio cities (RITA and CCA), plus several Indiana and Maryland counties.
- Is this affiliated with the IRS or any state?
- No. PayslipIQ is an independent, privately built educational resource. It is not affiliated with the IRS, the SSA, the Department of Labor, any state tax agency, any employer, or any payroll provider.
- Is there a Spanish version?
- A Spanish beta is available at /es/. Coverage will expand over time. The English version at /us/ remains the canonical USA hub.
- How is this different from a paycheck calculator?
- A paycheck calculator estimates take-home pay from gross. The Pay Stub Checker reads an actual pay stub and explains each line that already exists on it. They complement each other: estimate forward with the calculator, then verify what is on the stub with the checker.
- Is there a way to verify a pay stub?
- You can sanity-check a pay stub yourself: confirm gross pay matches your rate and hours, check that Social Security is 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare is 1.45%, and that gross pay minus every listed deduction equals the net pay shown. PayslipIQ walks through each of these. A checker cannot legally certify a stub; only your employer, payroll provider, or a CPA can confirm the underlying figures.
- How do I look up my pay stub?
- Most US employers post pay stubs in a payroll portal such as ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Workday, or Rippling. Log in to the portal your employer uses, or ask your HR or payroll team how to access past stubs. PayslipIQ does not store or retrieve employer pay stubs; it only explains a stub you already have.
- Can a landlord or lender detect a fake pay stub?
- Often yes. Landlords and lenders cross-check stubs against bank deposits, tax transcripts, and direct employer verification, and inconsistent math or formatting is a common giveaway. Submitting a fabricated pay stub is fraud and can carry serious legal consequences. PayslipIQ does not create stubs; it helps you understand and check a genuine one.
- How can I get my pay stubs online for free?
- Through your employer payroll portal, which is free to employees. If you have left a job, you can often still log in for a period or request copies from the former employer. Be cautious of paid sites that offer to generate stubs: a generated stub is not a record of real pay. PayslipIQ is free and explains a real stub rather than producing one.
Related tools
Want to go further?
The calculators and guides here are free. If you want a closer look at one specific stub, these optional next steps go deeper.
How PayslipIQ stays free: the tools and guides are free to use. PayslipIQ offers optional paid reports and monitoring, and links to independent CPA and tax-preparer directories. It is not affiliated with the IRS, the SSA, any employer, or any payroll provider, and does not sell user data. Educational only, not tax, legal, or financial advice.
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.