AllPayStubsHOW TO READ A CHECK STUB
See What Goes on
Your Check Stub.
Review the employer and employee details, pay period, earnings and deductions on a completed check stub. This fictional example shows both current pay and year-to-date totals.
SAMPLE EMPLOYEE & PAY PERIOD
Check the Dates
and Employee Details.
- Employee
- Alex Sample
- Pay Period
- Oct 8–14, 2026
- Pay Date
- Oct 16, 2026
THE CURRENT PERIOD
How Net Pay Is Calculated
Start with recorded earnings, subtract employee taxes and deductions, then add reimbursements.
- Gross Earnings Regular earnings for this pay period
- $2,000.00
- Employee Taxes Recorded withholding supplied in the sample
- − $400.00
- Deductions Recorded benefits deduction
- − $100.00
- Reimbursements Recorded mileage reimbursement
- + $50.00
- Net Pay
- $1,550.00
These are fictional recorded amounts. No tax rate or withholding estimate is applied.
THE YEAR TO DATE
How YTD Pay Is Calculated
Year-to-date (YTD) includes the supplied opening balance, one recorded prior payment and the current payment. It is not the latest check multiplied across the year.
- Opening Net Pay Recorded through Sep 30, 2026
- $30,300.00
- Prior Net Pay Payment dated Oct 9, 2026
- + $1,375.00
- Current Net Pay Payment dated Oct 16, 2026
- + $1,550.00
- YTD Net Pay
- $33,225.00
The sample also shows YTD earnings, taxes, deductions and reimbursements separately.
BEFORE YOU CREATE OR RECREATE A STUB
Have Your
Payroll Details Ready.
-
Pay Period & Pay Date
The period identifies the dates the statement covers. The pay date is shown separately. In this sample, Oct 8–14 is the period; Oct 16 is the pay date.
-
Current & YTD
Current means this payment. Year to Date adds the supplied history through this payment, so it reflects the records entered for the year.
-
The Source Records
A clear layout helps you review the figures. It doesn’t independently establish that employment, earnings or payment occurred. Accurate statements begin with actual payroll records.
CHOOSE A CHECK STUB TEMPLATE
Find the Template You Prefer.
Compare the same check stub in Forest, Navy and Monochrome, then download your preferred sample.