Common questions about how to make pay stubs, how to create paystubs online, pricing, and
what a paystub actually contains.
What is a pay stub?
A pay stub is the document that breaks down a single pay period: gross pay, taxes
withheld (federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, Medicare), deductions, and net
pay. It's the supporting document banks, landlords, and lenders typically ask for when
they want to verify income.
How do I generate a pay stub online?
Three steps, under 2 minutes. Enter your company and employee details (business name,
EIN, employee info, pay period, wages). Preview the auto-calculated federal, state,
FICA, and Medicare taxes and verify them. Download the PDF. The process works the same
for a single stub, paycheck stubs in bulk, or check stubs for contractors.
Is your paystub generator paid or free?
The preview costs nothing. Build your full pay stub, verify every tax calculation, see
exactly what the PDF will look like. You only pay when you download the final PDF. No
subscription, no recurring charges, no hidden fees.
What information is included on a pay stub?
A complete pay stub includes: employer name and EIN, employee details, pay period
dates, pay rate, gross pay, federal income tax withholding, state income tax
withholding, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), benefit deductions (health insurance,
401(k), garnishments), year-to-date (YTD) totals, and net pay. New to reading one? Our
guide on
pay
stub abbreviations walks you through every line.
What's the difference between a pay stub and a paycheck?
The paycheck is the payment itself, the deposit, the check, the wire. The pay stub is
the document that explains how the paycheck was calculated: gross pay, tax
withholdings, deductions, net pay. Some employers send the digital pay stub separately
from the direct deposit notification. That pay stub is what banks and landlords usually
want to see.
Are the tax calculations accurate?
Yes. Federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, Social Security, and Medicare are
calculated using the current IRS withholding tables (Publication 15-T) plus the
state-specific formulas. We follow the latest Form W-4 spec and refresh the tables
every tax year. You don't have to track rate changes yourself.
Can I use this for both employees and 1099 contractors?
Yes. The generator handles W-2 employee pay stubs (with full federal and state
withholding) and 1099 independent contractor pay stubs (no automatic withholding unless
TIN or backup-withholding rules apply). You can flip between the two at any point —
handy if you wear both hats.
Does PayStubCreator work in all 50 U.S. states?
Yes. State income tax, state W-4 variants, and local withholding rules are built in for
all 50 states. That includes state-specific items like California's PTO accrual, New
York's meal break premium, and Massachusetts' Sick Time Act balances.
What does YTD (Year-to-Date) mean?
Year-to-Date totals are cumulative numbers from January 1 of the current year through
the pay period you're on now: total earnings, taxes withheld, and net pay. Tax filers,
loan officers, and budgeting apps look at YTD first. PayStubCreator calculates it
automatically and lets you carry prior YTD values over from another payroll system.
Can I include 401(k), health insurance, or garnishments?
Yes. Custom deductions are supported on every pay stub: 401(k) and IRA contributions
(pre-tax), health insurance premiums, dental and vision premiums, HSA and FSA
contributions, child support, and court-ordered wage garnishments. Each deduction
recalculates net pay and the tax totals so the bottom line is always right.
What if I need to edit my paystub after creating it?
Before payment, the preview is editable as many times as you need. Spot an error after
downloading? Contact our 24/7
support team and we'll help you
correct it without an extra charge. Mistakes happen and we'd rather fix them than make
you start from scratch.
How fast can I download my pay stub PDF?
Instant. From entering details to PDF download, it usually takes under 2 minutes. No
email confirmation, no account creation, no waiting.
Our customer support is available 24/7:
