Understand your pay stub.

Start with the dates.

A pay period describes the work covered by a paycheck. The pay date identifies when it is paid. For example, work through Friday might be paid the following Monday, so the two dates need not be the same.

In the maker, select your pay frequency and the order of the stubs, then enter a pay date. Suggested dates are a convenience: check every period against your actual payroll schedule and adjust it where needed.

Earnings and gross pay.

Gross pay is earnings before deductions. An hourly entry uses the rate and actual hours worked; a salary entry uses the salary basis and pay frequency. Check these inputs before reviewing any calculated totals.

Replace suggested hours with the hours worked in that specific period. Do not assume that each paycheck in a multi-stub order covers identical hours.

From gross pay to net pay.

Net pay is what remains after deductions are taken from gross pay. Read the earnings and deduction sections together so you can follow how the displayed net amount was reached.

Check the tax state and withholding choices as well as the amounts. A calculation in the preview should still be reconciled with the payroll records you intend the document to represent.

What does YTD mean?

Year-to-date, or YTD, means the cumulative amount for the calendar year through the paycheck shown. Current amounts describe one pay period; YTD amounts include earlier periods in that year.

Choose the correct YTD starting point in the form. If you have prior payroll totals, enter those records so the next stub continues from the right position rather than starting over.

A final review makes the difference.

• Check company and employee names, dates and pay frequency.
• Verify rate or salary, hours, deductions and YTD amounts.
• Review every stub and any optional deposit slip.
• Confirm the delivery email and final checkout total.

Keep the finished document consistent with actual pay and employment records. For background on employer recordkeeping, read the U.S. Department of Labor recordkeeping fact sheet. For an annual wage statement, explore the W-2 preparation tool.