8 things to check on your next pay stub.

What the 8 checks cover

1. W-4 filing status. Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, Married Filing Separately — does the stub match what you actually filed?
2. FICA wage-base proximity. Social Security 6.2% stops once your YTD wages cross the SSA wage base ($184,500 for 2026). High earners get a Q4 take-home bump; check when that happens.
3. State worker contributions. CA SDI 1.3%; NY SDI ($31.20/yr cap) + NY PFL 0.432%; NJ SDI 0.23% + FLI 0.19%; MA PFML 0.46%; OR Paid Leave 0.6%; WA PFML 0.807% + WA Cares 0.58%; RI TDI 1.1%; CO FAMLI 0.44%; HI TDI 0.5%. Should appear as separate lines on your stub if applicable.
4. Local tax. NYC (3.078-3.876% resident), Yonkers (16.75% of NYS tax), Philadelphia (3.74% resident / 3.43% non-resident), Detroit (2.4% / 1.2%), Ohio RITA / CCA cities, MD counties, IN counties, KCMO / STL 1%, Wilmington DE 1.25%, Multnomah PFA + Portland Metro SHS. If you live or work somewhere on this list, expect a local line.
5. Pre-tax vs post-tax order. Pre-tax (401(k) traditional, HSA, FSA, Section 125 health/dental/vision) come out BEFORE federal income tax. Roth and garnishments come out AFTER. Check the order on your stub.
6. Bonus-month variance. Bonuses are typically withheld at the flat 22% federal supplemental rate (or 37% on YTD supplemental over $1M). Looks high — but it is withholding, not final tax. You reconcile at filing.
7. YTD pace vs limits. 401(k) 2026 elective deferral $24,500 ($33,000 if age 50+). HSA $4,400 self / $8,750 family ($1,000 catch-up at 55+). Are you on pace? Use the Year-to-Date Checker.
8. Benefit drift. Health premium / dental / vision premiums can change mid-year (open enrollment, plan-year resets). Compare each stub to the prior period and ask payroll if anything moved unexpectedly.

Tools mentioned in the PDF

Common questions

What is the Paycheck Health Score?

A free 1-page PDF (with a worked example) that walks you through 8 things to check on your next US pay stub: W-4 filing status accuracy, FICA wage-base proximity (the 6.2% Social Security cap of $184,500 for 2026), state-specific worker contributions like CA SDI / NY PFL / NJ SDI+FLI, local tax presence (NYC, Yonkers, Philadelphia, Detroit, RITA cities), pre-tax vs post-tax deduction order, bonus-month withholding variance, YTD pace against the 401(k) and HSA limits, and benefit-drift (premiums silently increasing mid-year). Educational only, not tax advice.

What do I get when I sign up?

A confirmation email immediately, then the PDF within minutes. We will email you only when we publish substantive updates to the Pay Stub Checker or the Take-Home Index. Unsubscribe one-click.

Why is this free?

Educational explainers are the core PayslipIQ mission. The free Paycheck Calculator, FICA explainer, and state hub pages cover the basics. The Health Score PDF distills the 8 highest-leverage checks into a portable format you can keep with your records.

Is this tax or financial advice?

No. PayslipIQ is educational only. The Health Score helps you spot questions to ask your payroll team or a CPA / EA. It does not constitute tax, legal, payroll, accounting, or financial advice. Always verify important numbers with your employer or a qualified professional.

What happens to my email?

It is stored solely so we can send the PDF and occasional product updates. We do not sell, share, or rent it. Our privacy notice describes the full handling.

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.