Frequently asked questions
- Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
- No. Tennessee does not tax wage income, so a Tennessee pay stub has no state income tax line. You will still see federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare).
- What should I check on a Tennessee pay stub?
- Compare gross pay to your rate and hours, check federal income tax withholding against your W-4, confirm Social Security (6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), review the absence of a state income tax line, and confirm pre-tax and post-tax deductions before net pay.
- Is uploading a pay stub safe?
- Before sharing any pay stub, cover or remove personal identifiers: Social Security number, bank account details, home address, employee ID, employer reference numbers, QR codes, and barcodes. PayslipIQ is an educational tool and cannot confirm whether your paycheck is correct.
Read a Tennessee pay stub line by line — gross pay, federal tax, FICA, no state income tax, deductions, and net pay — in plain English.
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.
What is on a Tennessee pay stub
Gross pay. Total earnings for the pay period before any deductions — rate times hours, or salary divided by pay periods, plus overtime and any bonuses.
Federal income tax. Withheld from every US paycheck using your W-4 and the IRS Publication 15-T method. This is the same in Tennessee as in every other state.
FICA — Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500; Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, with an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 for a single filer.
State income tax. Tennessee does not levy a state income tax on wages, so a Tennessee pay stub shows no state income tax line. Federal income tax and FICA still apply.
Pre-tax and post-tax deductions. Pre-tax items (traditional 401(k), HSA, Section 125 health premiums) reduce taxable wages. Post-tax items (Roth contributions, garnishments) come off after tax.
Net pay. Take-home pay — gross minus every tax and deduction above.
Estimate a Tennessee paycheck
To estimate take-home pay from gross, use the Tennessee paycheck calculator, which pre-selects Tennessee state settings. To walk through a real stub line by line, use the PayslipIQ Pay Stub Checker.
Official Tennessee source
For current Tennessee withholding rules and rates, see the Tennessee Department of Revenue. PayslipIQ is independent and not affiliated with any state agency.
Frequently asked
- Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
- No. Tennessee does not tax wage income, so a Tennessee pay stub has no state income tax line. You will still see federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare).
- What should I check on a Tennessee pay stub?
- Compare gross pay to your rate and hours, check federal income tax withholding against your W-4, confirm Social Security (6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), review the absence of a state income tax line, and confirm pre-tax and post-tax deductions before net pay.
- Is uploading a pay stub safe?
- Before sharing any pay stub, cover or remove personal identifiers: Social Security number, bank account details, home address, employee ID, employer reference numbers, QR codes, and barcodes. PayslipIQ is an educational tool and cannot confirm whether your paycheck is correct.