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.

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.

USA · 2026 · Educational only

Pay Stub Checker

Upload a US pay stub or paste paycheck numbers. PayslipIQ walks through every line in plain English so you can read the stub and ask the right question. Educational only.

Reviewed by PayslipIQ Editorial Team, in-house payroll editor

Last reviewed May 2026 · Editorial standards on methodology

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 — same line-by-line breakdown, same methodology.

Use the Paycheck Calculator

Need a full check on a real pay stub today?

The Premium Pay Stub Report is a human-reviewable 12-page PDF: every line checked against IRS Pub 15-T tables and your state’s schedule, with a 10-question pack for payroll. $29 one-time, 7-day refund if the report did not match the upload.

See the Premium Report

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.

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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.