Free Online Paystub Generator - Generate Accurate Paystubs Instantly

Q: What is YTD and how is it handled?

YTD (Year-to-Date) represents total earnings and deductions accumulated from the start of the year. Our tool allows you to manually enter "Previous YTD" values to ensure your current paystub displays accurate, cumulative totals.

Q: What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?

For 2026, the wage base is $184,500. Earnings above this are not subject to the 6.2% tax.

Create accurate 2025/2026 pay stubs in minutes with automated federal, state, and FICA estimates. Review updated IRS brackets and standard deductions, then download printable paystubs with no signup.

A: Employer & Employee Details

A1 Employer Name *Required A2 Employer EIN A3 Employer Logo Upload A4 Employer Phone

A5 Employer Street *Required A6 Employer City *Required A7 Employer State *Required A8 Employer ZIP *Required

A9 Employee ID A10 Employee Name *Required A11 Employee Phone A12 Last 4 SSN *Required

A13 Employee Street *Required A14 Employee City *Required A15 Employee State *Required A16 Employee ZIP *Required A17 Hire Date

A18 Taxable Marital Status *Required A19 Taxable State *Required A20 Wage Type *Required A21 Pay Frequency *Required A22 Pay Period Start *Required

A23 Pay Period End *Required A24 Pay Date *Required A25 Paycheck Number A26 Mode of Payment

B: Deductions

Description	Current	Previous YTD	YTD
B1: Federal Income Tax
B2: State Income Tax
B3: City Tax
B4: SUI/SDI Tax
B5: Social Security
B6: Medicare
B6A: Additional Medicare Tax
▼ Other Deductions
B7: Bond
B8: 401(k)
B9: Stock Plan
B10: Life Insurance
B11: Loan
B12: Total Deductions
NET PAY
Total

C: Earnings

Earning	Rate	Hrs	Current
C1: Regular
C2: Overtime
C3: Holiday
C4: Bonus
C5: Commission
C6: Total Earnings
C12: Federal Wages This Period
C13: Annual Gross Wages
▼ Other Benefits & Info (click to expand)
Description	Current	Previous YTD	YTD
C7: Group Term Life
C8: Outstanding Loan
C9: Vac Hrs
C10: Sick Hrs
C11: Title

Important Notes

Preview style:

`); w.document.close(); w.onload = () => { const ready = w.document.fonts?.ready; if (ready && typeof ready.then === 'function') { ready.then(() => w.print()); } else { w.print(); } }; } document.getElementById('printStubBtn')?.addEventListener('click', openPrintPopup);});

Classic Preview

ACME SUPPLIES CORP.

475 KNAPP AVENUE ANYTOWN US 10101

Social Security Number: 999-99-9999

Taxable Marital Status: Married

Earnings Statement

Period ending: 7/18/2008

Pay date: 7/25/2008

Pay frequency: Bi-Weekly

JANE HARPER

101 MAIN STREET ANYTOWN US 12345

Earnings	rate	hours	this period	year to date
Regular	10.00	32.00	320.00	16,640.00
Overtime	15.00	1.00	15.00	780.00
Holiday	10.00	8.00	80.00	4,160.00
Bonus	37.43*	—	1,946.80	—
Commission	37.43*	—	1,946.80	—
Gross Pay			452.43	23,526.80

Deductions

Statutory	this period	year to date
Federal Income Tax	-40.60	2,111.20
Social Security Tax	-28.05	1,458.60
Medicare Tax	-6.56	341.12
Additional Medicare Tax	0.00	0.00
State Income Tax	-8.43	438.36
City Tax	-5.94	308.88
SUI/SDI Tax	-0.60	31.20
Other Deductions
Bond	-5.00	100.00
401(k)	-28.85*	1,500.20
Stock Plan	-15.00	150.00
Life Insurance	-5.00	50.00
Loan	-30.00	150.00

Other Benefits and Information

Description	this period	year to date
Group Term Life	0.51	0.00
Outstanding Loan	840.00	0.00
Vac Hrs	40.00	0.00
Sick Hrs	16.00	0.00
Title	Operator

Net Pay	291.90
Your federal wages this period are	386.15

Important Notes

ACME SUPPLIES CORP.

475 KNAPP AVENUE ANYTOWN US 10101

Payroll check number:	000000000
Pay date:	7/25/2008
Social Security No.:	999-99-9999

Earnings	Rate	Hours	This Period	Year to Date
Regular	37.00	40.00	$1,480.00	$73,569.84
Overtime	3.00	5.00	$37.50	$2,500.00
Holiday	0.00	0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Bonus	0.00	—	$0.00	$0.00
Commission	0.00	—	$0.00	$0.00
Gross Pay	$1.00

Deductions	This Period	Year to Date
Federal Income Tax	$40.60	$2,111.20
Social Security	$28.05	$1,458.60
Medicare	$6.56	$341.12
Additional Medicare Tax	$0.00	$0.00
State Income Tax	$8.43	$438.36
City Tax	$5.94	$308.88
SUI/SDI Tax	$0.60	$31.20
Bond	$5.00	$100.00
401(k)	$28.85	$1,500.20
Stock Plan	$15.00	$150.00
Life Insurance	$5.00	$50.00
Loan	$30.00	$150.00

Other Benefits & Information	Current	Year to Date
Group Term Life	$0.51	$0.00
Outstanding Loan	$840.00	$0.00
Vac Hrs	$40.00	$0.00
Sick Hrs	$16.00	$0.00
Title	Operator

Print Rules (Modern): In the browser print dialog choose “Margins: Minimum” and keep “Background graphics” ON.
Print Rules (Classic): Use “Margins: Default/Normal” and keep “Background graphics” ON.

Free Paystub Generator for Federal + All 50 States

This free pay stub generator helps you create a clean earnings statement using a fast, accurate paystub generator workflow for US payroll. Use it as a paycheck stub generator or check stub maker to preview gross to net results, including federal withholding, FICA, and state payroll taxes. The calculator is designed to support practical estimates for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 tax years without changing your existing workflow.

Whether you need a paycheck calculator for hourly or salary pay, this tool keeps the process simple and mobile-friendly. Enter your wages, deductions, and pay period details to see a clear breakdown of gross to net, plus an easy way to review federal withholding and state payroll taxes at a glance. State links below are provided for convenience and redirect back to this main calculator.

Instructions for Federal + All 50 States

Follow the steps below to generate a clean paystub preview tailored to your pay period and withholdings.

50-State Paystub Links

Step-by-Step Instructions

Enter your employer, employee, and pay period details.
Add hours, rates, salary, and any bonuses or commissions.
Review deductions for federal withholding, FICA, and state payroll taxes.
Confirm gross to net totals and preview your paystub.
Print or download your stub for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this generator truly free to use?

Absolutely. This is a 100% free tool for small business owners, freelancers, and contractors. You can generate, preview, and print as many paystubs as you need without creating an account or paying a fee.

How are the tax deductions calculated?

The calculator uses the latest 2024-2026 IRS tax tables and state-specific data. It automatically estimates Federal Income Tax, Social Security, and Medicare based on the gross wages and filing status you provide.

What is YTD and how is it handled?

YTD (Year-to-Date) represents total earnings and deductions accumulated from the start of the year. Our tool allows you to manually enter "Previous YTD" values to ensure your current paystub displays accurate, cumulative totals.

Is my sensitive information stored?

No. Your privacy is our priority. All data entry and calculations happen locally in your web browser. We do not store EINs, SSNs, or salary details on our servers.

Can I add my company logo to the stub?

Yes! Use the "Employer Logo Upload" field in Section A. Our tool will integrate your logo into both the Classic and Modern templates for a fully professional, branded look.

Does this tool support all 50 U.S. States?

Yes. You can select any U.S. state. The generator recognizes state-specific income tax variations and SUI/SDI requirements, ensuring your paycheck estimate is localized to your specific region.

Federal Taxes & 2026 Legislation

What is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2026?

It is federal legislation that permanently extended several TCJA tax rates and introduced new deductions for tips and overtime.

How does the OBBBA affect my 2026 paystub?

It introduces specific reporting requirements for "Qualified Overtime" and "Qualified Tips" which are now partially deductible.

What are the 2026 Federal Income Tax brackets?

Rates are set at 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% based on your taxable income level.

What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?

For 2026, the wage base is $184,500. Earnings above this are not subject to the 6.2% tax.

What is the 2026 Medicare tax rate?

It remains 1.45% for employees, with an additional 0.9% for high earners over $200k.

How do I calculate the new 2026 Overtime Tax Deduction?

Employees can deduct up to $12,500 of qualified overtime pay; our generator flags these automatically.

Are tips taxable on a 2026 paystub?

Yes, though the OBBBA allows workers to deduct up to $25,000 in tips annually from taxable income.

What is FICA?

FICA is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, combining Social Security and Medicare taxes.

What is the 2026 Standard Deduction?

For 2026, it is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly.

How does Form W-4 affect my paystub?

Your W-4 elections determine the specific amount of federal tax withheld from each paycheck.

What is the "Percentage Method" for withholding?

A formula the IRS uses to calculate tax by annualizing your current pay period’s wages.

Can I claim "Exempt" on my 2026 paystub?

Yes, if you had no tax liability last year and expect none this year.

What are supplemental wages?

Bonuses or commissions, typically taxed at a flat federal rate of 22%.

What is FUTA?

Federal Unemployment Tax Act, a tax paid strictly by the employer.

How does an HSA contribution affect taxes?

Contributions are pre-tax, reducing Federal, Social Security, and Medicare taxable amounts.

What is the 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) limit?

The maximum credit is $8,231 for those with three or more children.

Does 401(k) reduce Social Security tax?

No. It only reduces Federal and State Income Tax, not FICA.

What is a "Lock-in Letter" from the IRS?

An IRS directive forcing an employer to withhold at a specific, higher rate.

What is the backup withholding rate for 2026?

It is currently set at 24% for specific reportable payments.

Is the 2026 paystub different for non-resident aliens?

Yes, they use special withholding tables and add-backs per IRS Publication 15.

State-Specific Requirements

Which states have no income tax in 2026?

AK, FL, NV, SD, TN, TX, WY, and WA (Capital gains aside).

What are California’s 2026 paystub requirements?

Stubs must show total hours, all hourly rates, and the employer’s legal name/address per CA Labor Code 226.

What is CASDI on a California paystub?

California State Disability Insurance, a mandatory employee-funded payroll tax.

How much is New York’s PFL deduction?

Paid Family Leave is a percentage of wages capped at an annual state-defined maximum.

Does Florida require paystubs?

Florida has no state-level requirement, but employers must follow federal FLSA record-keeping rules.

What is Texas’s pay frequency law?

Most Texas employees must be paid at least twice a month.

What is New Jersey’s SUI/FLI?

These represent state unemployment and family leave insurance contributions.

Does Pennsylvania have local taxes?

Yes, most municipalities in PA have an Earned Income Tax (EIT).

What is the 2026 North Carolina tax rate?

North Carolina uses a flat tax rate, approximately 3.99% for 2026.

How does Illinois calculate state withholding?

Illinois applies a flat rate (4.95%) to wages after basic exemptions.

What is the Washington Cares Fund?

A 0.58% payroll tax for long-term care insurance in Washington state.

Does Massachusetts have a Paid Family Leave tax?

Yes, the MAPFML is a mandatory deduction for MA employees.

What is the "Convenience of the Employer" rule in NY?

Remote workers for NY companies may still owe NY state tax even if working from elsewhere.

What is Oregon’s Transit Tax?

A 0.1% tax on wages of Oregon residents and non-residents working in Oregon.

Does Ohio have city taxes?

Yes, many Ohio cities require local income tax withholding.

What are Colorado’s FAMLI deductions?

A state-run insurance program funded by a 0.9% payroll premium split between employer/employee.

What is the Maryland "Pay Stub" law of 2026?

New laws require disclosure of all pay rates and the employer’s phone number on the stub.

How do I handle Multi-State withholding?

Taxes are generally withheld for the state where the work is physically performed.

What is Arizona’s 2026 tax rate?

Arizona uses a simplified flat-tax system with employee-selected withholding percentages.

Does Georgia have a state W-4?

Yes, Georgia uses Form G-4 for state withholding elections.

What is the "Reciprocity Agreement"?

Agreements between states (like PA/NJ) so you only pay taxes to your state of residence.

What is Nevada’s Modified Business Tax?

It is an employer-paid tax and does not appear on the employee's stub.

Is SUTA an employee deduction?

Generally no, except in AK, NJ, and PA where employees contribute.

What is the minimum wage in California for 2026?

It is scheduled to be $16.00+ depending on company size.

What is the Virginia "Worker Misclassification" law?

Strict rules requiring workers to be correctly identified as employees or contractors on stubs.

What are "Local Services Taxes" (LST) in PA?

A small flat fee (usually $52/year) for local emergency services.

Does Michigan have a flat tax?

Yes, Michigan has a state flat tax plus city-level taxes (e.g., Detroit).

What is the "SUI" limit?

The maximum amount of wages subject to State Unemployment Insurance.

Does Connecticut have a Paid Leave tax?

Yes, a 0.5% deduction for CT Paid Leave.

What is "Tax Nexus"?

The business presence in a state that triggers the requirement to withhold taxes there.

Payroll Math & Calculations

What is Gross Pay?

Total earnings before any taxes or deductions are removed.

What is Net Pay?

Take-home pay after all taxes and deductions have been subtracted.

How is Bi-Weekly pay calculated?

Total annual salary divided by 26 pay periods.

How is Semi-Monthly pay calculated?

Total annual salary divided by 24 pay periods.

What is the formula for Overtime?

Regular Rate × 1.5 × OT Hours.

What is Double Time?

Regular Rate × 2, often required in CA for shifts over 12 hours.

What are Pre-Tax deductions?

Items like 401(k) or health insurance that lower your taxable income.

What are Post-Tax deductions?

Items like Roth 401(k) or garnishments that are taken after taxes.

What is "Year-To-Date" (YTD)?

The cumulative total of earnings/taxes since January 1st.

How do I calculate YTD if I start mid-year?

Sum all earnings from your first check of the year through the current check.

What is a "Pay Period"?

The specific timeframe (e.g., 2 weeks) covered by the paycheck.

What is "Taxable Gross"?

Gross pay minus pre-tax deductions; the amount the IRS actually taxes.

How do I calculate commission on a paystub?

Usually added as a supplemental earnings line item.

Why only enter the last 4 digits of the SSN?

For privacy, full SSNs are rarely printed on stubs. Entering only the last 4 digits is a standard security practice that protects the employee's identity while still providing necessary identification on the document.

What is a "Flat Rate" deduction?

A fixed dollar amount deduction, like a $50 health premium.

What is a "Percentage" deduction?

A deduction based on % of pay, like a 5% 401(k) contribution.

How is Holiday Pay calculated?

Usually regular pay for a standard 8-hour day.

What is "Sick Pay" vs "Vacation Pay"?

Both are taxable, but often tracked separately for accrual purposes.

What is a "Tax Table"?

IRS/State charts used to find tax amounts for specific wage ranges.

How do I handle a "Pay Advance"?

It is deducted from future net pay until the balance is zero.

What is a "Bonus" tax rate?

Bonuses are often withheld at a flat supplemental rate of 22%.

How do I calculate piece-rate pay?

Units Produced × Rate Per Unit.

What is "Retroactive Pay"?

Pay for work completed in a prior period, paid on the current check.

How is "Imputed Income" handled?

Taxable non-cash perks (like life insurance) added to gross for tax calc only.

What is the "De Minimis" rule?

Small, non-taxable perks like coffee or occasional snacks.

How do I calculate "Net to Gross"?

A "gross-up" calculation to ensure a specific take-home amount.

Use Cases & Proof of Income

Can I use a generated paystub for a mortgage?

Yes, most lenders accept professional stubs as proof of income.

How many paystubs do I need for a car loan?

Typically the last 2 to 4 consecutive paystubs.

What is "Proof of Employment"?

A paystub provides legal evidence of your current job status.

How do I prove income if I’m a Contractor?

You use a 1099 "Payment Advice" or Earnings Statement.

What if my employer doesn't give me a paystub?

Request one; most states require employers to provide pay records.

Can I use paystubs for a rental application?

Yes, to verify your Income-to-Rent ratio for landlords.

What is a "Pay Advice"?

Another term for a paystub, common in electronic payroll.

How do I verify a paystub’s authenticity?

Lenders verify YTD math and cross-reference with bank statements.

Can I make a paystub for my Nanny?

Yes, stubs are vital for tracking "Nanny Taxes" for household staff.

What is an EIN?

Employer Identification Number; required for a valid business paystub.

How do I show "Garnishments" on a stub?

Listed as post-tax deductions like "Child Support" or "IRS Levy."

What is a "Paycard"?

A debit card loaded with net pay; a stub is still required by law.

How long should I keep my paystubs?

Keep them for 1 year or until you receive and verify your W-2.

What is a "Pay Stub Generator"?

An online tool like ours that automates 2026 tax math.

Can I use a paystub for a visa application?

Yes, it serves as evidence of financial stability.

What is "Direct Deposit"?

Electronic transfer of funds; the stub remains your legal record.

How do I show "Tips" paid in cash?

Reported as "Tips" so FICA/Income tax can be withheld from wages.

What is "Shift Differential"?

Premium pay for working less-desirable hours (nights/weekends).

Classic vs. Modern styles?

The Classic style mimics traditional payroll checks used by large corporations. The Modern style features a sleek, high-contrast layout that is highly readable and optimized for digital sharing.

Is a digital paystub legal?

Yes, if the employee can access, view, and print it easily.

What is a "Void" check?

Often requested with a stub to setup Direct Deposit banking.

How do I list "Reimbursements"?

List as non-taxable "Additions" to net pay.

What is "Severance Pay"?

Taxable income paid upon leaving a company, clearly labeled on the stub.

Does a paystub show my bank account number?

Usually only the last 4 digits for privacy and security.

What if my YTD is wrong?

Inform payroll immediately to prevent a permanent W-2 error.

How do I generate a 2026 paystub now?

Use our 2026-compliant generator for all states and federal rules.

How Payroll Taxes Work

Understanding the difference between income tax and social insurance is key to managing your finances or business payroll effectively.

FICA Social Security & Medicare

Under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), taxes are split between employees and employers to fund social safety nets.

Social Security (OASDI): Both parties pay 6.2% of gross wages up to the annual wage base limit.
Medicare: Both parties pay 1.45%. High earners may trigger an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on income exceeding $200,000.

SECA Self-Employment Tax

For freelancers and contractors, there is no employer to split the bill. This is governed by the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA).

Self-employed individuals pay the full 15.3% (combining both employer and employee portions). However, the IRS allows a deduction of the "employer-equivalent" portion when calculating Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

Employer-Only Obligations

Beyond FICA, employers alone are responsible for Federal (FUTA) and State (SUI) Unemployment Taxes. These funds provide temporary income for displaced workers. Because these are employer-only costs, they do not appear as deductions on a standard employee paystub, though they are a significant part of the total "cost of hire" for a business.

Estimates for preview purposes. Verify with IRS/state agency.