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Whether you’re an employee, contractor, or business owner — find the perfect template that fits your needs.
From simple layouts to detailed premium designs, all our templates are crafted for accuracy and authenticity.
![\"Pay](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fnotebook.2ddac240.png&w=1200&q=75\")
Details about the payment itself, like date, check number, payment method.
![\"Classic](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fclassic.4d14f54e.png&w=1080&q=75\")
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![\"Net](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fnetpay.27fd9892.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Net Pay
![\"Deductions\"](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fdeductions.adcdd62f.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Deductions
![\"Employee](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Femployee.d40a3715.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Employee Information
![\"Employer](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Femployer.a41752ad.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Employer Information
![\"Earnings\"](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fearnings.8139ede1.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Earnings
![\"YTD](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fytd.47c7f455.svg&w=64&q=75\")
YTD (Year-to-Date) Information
![\"Employer](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Femployer-contributions.f4dc4209.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Employer Contributions
![\"Taxes](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Ftaxes.de62c649.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Taxes Withheld
![\"Pay](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fpay-period-dates.62183b94.svg&w=64&q=75\")
Pay Period Dates
Who Needs Paystubs?
Employees
- Verify their earnings and deductions are accurate.
- Understand their tax withholdings for tax filing.
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10+
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Stubs Generated
A pay stub documents an employee's compensation for a specified pay period. Employers often present it with employees's paychecks or make it available online as a downloadable PDF.
Paycheck stubs work as follows; gross pay, or the amount an employee receives before withholdings and taxes are deducted, is going to be shown on the pay stub.
Federal and state taxes, Social Security and Medicare contributions, and any voluntary payroll deductions, such as health insurance premiums or retirement plan contributions, are all going to be itemized on the pay stub. Moreover, the employee's net pay, or the amount of money the worker takes home as a paycheck after deductions, is shown on the pay stub.
The pay stub provides year-to-date totals for earnings, deductions, and net pay, the total amount earned for the present calendar year. They are able to additionally contain the payment period dates, the employee's name and address, the employer's name and address, and any relevant payroll codes. Nonetheless, this varies from company to company.
Pay stubs benefit workers and employers since they detail an individual's earnings and any applicable deductions. They provide evidence of the worker's earnings for tax and reporting functions.
Aside from complying with legal obligations and avoiding fines, payroll check stubs provide employees with the assurance that they’ve been paid correctly. They also help employees and contractors understand their taxes and file their returns.
You are required to show genuine paystubs when applying for loans and mortgages, renting property, and making large purchases. They are also helpful if an employee had an accident at work and needs to file a compensation claim.
It depends on their state. In some cases, it’s compulsory and employees have to have printed paystubs. These are known as access/print states.
Other states are access only states, meaning that employees must be able to access their pay stubs electronically, but a hard copy isn’t compulsory. Finally, some states have no specific requirements about paycheck stubs, so it is up to employers to decide whether to provide them.
In addition, there are opt-in and opt-out states.
With opt-in states, companies are mandated to supply printed check stubs unless an employee decides to access them electronically. Opt-out states have to obtain employee consent before changing their method of access and have to stick to their existing method if the employee prefers it.
With that said, all employers need to be aware of how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) affects them. This act applies to any business with annual revenues of $500,000 or more, or those conducting interstate commerce. In fact, this law applies to the vast majority of US businesses.
The FLSA involves rules about record keeping. Records including payroll, purchase and sale information have to be kept for three years and records relating to wage calculation need to be retained for two years. It’s worth looking into the FLSA to confirm exactly how this may apply to your business.
With it being so easy to generate paystubs in a few clicks, why not be on the safe side? Managing payroll across multiple states is a challenge fraught with complexity. Use a check stub creator as security to prevent legal issues – in fact, fines for not providing proper check stubs can be as high as $5,000 per employee.
Yes, paystubs are able to be used as proof of income. Pay stubs give a complete summary of an employee's earnings, taxes, and deductions, which is able to be used to verify an employee's income when applying for loans, mortgages, or other types of credit.
Pay stubs must be accurate, and current, and include all pertinent information, including gross pay, net pay, taxes withheld, and deductions, when used as evidence of income.
Lenders or other institutions are able to need a certain number of pay stubs to verify an applicant's income, depending on their specific requirements. Employees must keep their pay stubs organized and accessible to make producing evidence of income easy.
Ultimately, pay stubs are a vital tool for both workers and employers, giving a thorough record of an employee's wages and acting as evidence of income when required.
HSA stands for Health Saving Account, a type of tax-advantaged account for individuals with High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs). The contributions into the HSA can help pay for medical costs that HDHPs don’t reimburse for.
ER on check stubs stands for Employer Responsible and is the amount employers pay for health coverage.
Some other common payroll check stub abbreviations include:
- CHD SU: Child support
- DCR: Dependent care reimbursement
- INS/MED: Medical insurance
- HCR: Healthcare reimbursement
- STD: Short-term disability withholding
- LTD: Long-term disability withholding
- FSA: Flexible spending account
- Den: Dental premium
- Minimum 1 year: For tax filing and potential employer disputes.
- Longer for loans/rentals: Some lenders/landlords require pay stubs up to 2 years.
- At least 4 years recommended: Align with IRS record-keeping requirements for tax returns.
- Keep longer for peace of mind: Provides income verification for future needs.
A pay stub and a paycheck are connected but distinct.
A paycheck is a physical or digital document a company sends to an employee after each paid month. The salary contains the employee's gross pay, the amount removed for taxes and other expenditures, and the employee's net pay. The paycheck possesses the employee's name, the name and address of the business, and the pay period for which the compensation is given.
On the contrary, a pay stub is a record that shows the employee's take-home pay subsequent to all reductions and taxes that have been taken out. It is usually connected to a paper or digital paycheck and contains a thorough record of how an employee's salary was computed. The pay stub is able to supply year-to-date earnings and deduction totals, as well as additional data like vacation or sick leave.
For more details visit the Difference between Paystub vs Paycheck.
- Check Stub (less common but still somewhat understood)
- Paycheck Stub (common variation emphasizing the connection to paycheck)
- Payroll Stub (highlights the link to payroll process)
- Earnings Statement (more formal and descriptive)
- Wage Statement (focuses on wages rather than all earnings)
- Earning Slip (informal)
- Compensation Statement (formal, emphasizes total compensation)
- Payslip (common in British English and some other countries)
What is a Pay Stub?
A pay stub, also as a check stub, payslip or earnings statement, is a record that employees get from their company with each paycheck. It provides a detailed breakdown of employee's earnings and deductions for a specific pay period and the entire year.
Good to know
The History of a Pay Stub
Pay stubs originated during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution as factories and major firms hired enormous numbers of people. It evolved in the early 20th century when companies standardized employee payment. Many laborers were paid in cash or bartered before this, with minimal paperwork or record-keeping.
As companies grew complex, record-keeping became essential. Employers adopted payroll systems, and check stubs were born to track wages and deductions.
Today, automated systems generate these essential payroll history records for employees, both digitally and on paper. Employees can conveniently access their pay stubs online.
How to Get Pay Stubs?
Need a copy of your earnings statement? Here are the four main ways to get a pay stub, depending on your employer's system and your preference:
1. Check with your employer:
Most employers offer online access through a convenient employee portal for viewing pay stubs connected to your direct deposit. If not, they can usually provide physical copies.
2. Request a physical copy:
Contact your employer's payroll department to request a physical copy of your pay stub. They can mail it to you or arrange for pick-up.
3. Use a check stub maker:
Choose a reputable online check stub generator. Enter your payment information and download the generated stub. There are various tools available online, and it is very important to choose one that is authentic and secure.
4. Check your bank statement:
While your bank statement shows the amount deposited, it doesn't provide details like earnings and deductions. A pay stub offers this crucial information for tasks like filing taxes.
What Does A Pay Stub Look Like?
A pay stub doesn't have a universal format, but you can select one from various designs and layouts depending on the look a business owner, employed or self-employed individual desires.
Most will contain similar information presented in a table format. But all of paycheck stubs should contain these main parts:
- Employer Information
- Employee Information
- Pay Period Information
- Earnings & Deductions
Here is a paystub example from one of our various templates
![\"Modern](\"/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2Fmodern_preview.af77b53a.webp&w=3840&q=75\")
Types of Pay Stubs
There are two main types of paycheck stubs:
1. Electronic Pay Stubs (e-pay stubs):
Employees are able to see their check stubs online via a secure website or app rather than receiving a physical copy.
- Easy access
- Saves paper
- Environmentally friendly
- Requires internet access
- Potential security risks
- Some states may require paper stubs
2. Printed Pay Stubs (traditional paper check stubs):
Paper copies delivered by hand or mail.
- Physical record
- Easy for some employees to access
- Costly to print and mail
- Not eco-friendly
- Security concerns if lost/stolen
Pay Stub Templates
Real Check Stubs has different Paystubs template available, contingent on the needs and preferences. Templates are created to appear professional and comprise all the essential information.There are 18 designs available, including advanced, classic, and modern pay stub templates.
1. Advanced Pay Stub Template:
Is intended for people who desire a more comprehensive pay stub.
2. Classic Pay Stub Template:
Is intended for people who like a conventional and basic pay stub format. The design is ideal for people who want a simple, easy-to-read pay stub.
3. Modern Pay Stub Template:
Is intended for people who desire a pay stub that is sleek and professional in look.
The Paystub Template contains all required information, such as the employee's name and address, the employer's information, the pay period, gross pay, taxes, deductions, and net pay.
Real Check Stub's paycheck stub designs are all completely customizable, allowing an individual to add their logo or other branding components to create a unique pay stub that corresponds to the company or organization.
Fake Paystubs: Avoid the Dangers
A pay stub is your employees' receipt of being paid for their work, and the information must be correct. However, there are many fake paystub generators on the market which produce counterfeit stubs.
A fake check stub might have an incorrect pay period, hours worked, or even an incorrect hourly rate.
One common situation where people use fake pay stubs is when renting property, so landlords have to be diligent to be able to tell the difference. However, you don’t want to inadvertently give your honest employees fake paystubs and cause them – and yourself – serious legal problems.
How to identify Fake Paystub?
Identifying fake pay stubs is difficult since it is able to be made using internet templates or software that imitate the structure and look of actual pay stubs.
However, you can follow these red flags for spotting fake pay stubs:
- Missing key info (employee name, address, tax details)
- Strange or round numbers (especially net pay)
- Inconsistent formatting (fonts, layout)
- Unverifiable employer info
- Unusual payment methods (Bitcoin, gift cards)
An employee must contact their company's human resources or payroll administrator right away if they identify a fake paycheck stub or have any doubts about the legitimacy of a pay stub.
The best way to avoid any issues is to create a real pay stub generator with the correct information. So why take the risk? Use Real Check Stubs® instead, and create accurate and authentic paycheck stubs.
Common Errors When Making Check Stubs Online
When creating a pay stub online, you need to be careful and select the right option. For example, if you select the wrong option for 401k deductions, your pay stub will not be accurate and might cause problems down the road.Here are a few things that you should check before you make your check stub:
Spell Check
- Typos or inaccuracies in entering employee information (name, address, social security number) or pay details (gross pay, hours worked, overtime pay) can lead to confusion and frustration for employees and potential tax issues.
- Correct any data entry mistakes before finalizing your check stub.
- Be sure that you double-check the zip code to make sure that it is correct.
Outdated Tax Withholdings
- Tax laws and withholding rates change periodically. Using outdated information in the paycheck stub can lead to underpayment or overpayment of taxes, causing problems for both employees and employers.
- If you are unsure about updated tax withholdings on your pay stub, ask your employer for clarification. Some employers will create their own unique system for calculating taxes and other payroll deductions, so it's always recommended to understand how they do it.
- Make sure you keep a copy of your pay stub documents in a safe place so you can refer back to it later if necessary.
Missing Information
- Essential details like pay period dates, tax withholdings, and deductions (health insurance, retirement contributions) need to be included. Omitting any of these can make the paycheck stub incomplete and useless for employees trying to track income or file taxes.
Unsecure Online Generators
- If using an online pay stub generator, choose a reputable platform with strong security measures. Beware of phishing scams or unauthorized access to employee data.
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