Common pay stub mistakes
15 things on a US pay stub that are commonly wrong — and the question to ask payroll for each.
- Hours shortCompare to your time-clock or timesheet.
- Wrong pay rateCompare to your offer letter or last raise notice.
- Missing overtimeConfirm hours and your exempt/non-exempt status.
- Overtime regular rateShould usually include nondiscretionary bonuses and shift differentials.
- Wrong state withholdingConfirm work state and resident state on file.
- Wrong local taxCommon in OH, PA, NY, MI, KY, MO when work or home location changes.
- FICA offSS = 6.2% (up to wage base). Medicare = 1.45% of all wages.
- 401(k) percent wrongCompare to your election in your benefits portal.
- Health premium change unannouncedMid-year benefit changes should be communicated.
- Garnishment you do not recognizeAsk for the order or paperwork.
- Bonus aggregated when expected flatMethod choice belongs to the employer but should be consistent.
- Tip credit applied incorrectlyFederal tip credit is up to $5.12/hr — many states ban it.
- Mileage reimbursement taxedReimbursement at the IRS rate is generally non-taxable.
- Per diem taxedAccountable plan per diem is non-taxable.
- Imputed income missing or wrongGroup term life over $50,000 should appear as imputed.
Related tools
Pay Stub Checker
Walk through every line on your pay stub and flag what to ask payroll.
Paycheck Calculator
Estimate take-home pay from gross wages, W-4 settings, and state.
Salary After Tax
See what an annual salary becomes weekly, biweekly, and monthly.
W-4 Paycheck Guide
Plain-English walkthrough of how a W-4 changes your paycheck.
FICA Explained
Why Social Security and Medicare appear separately on your stub.
Overtime Calculator
Federal FLSA + state daily overtime where it applies.