A payment stub is the document your employer gives you alongside your paycheck that shows how much you earned and what was deducted
A payment stub (also called a pay stub, paycheck stub, or earnings statement) is a record of your gross pay, deductions, and net pay for a single pay period. It arrives with your paycheck—either printed on the check itself, attached to a direct deposit notification, or sent separately by your employer. The stub breaks down exactly where your money went: federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and anything else your employer withheld.
You need this document because it proves your income. Landlords, lenders, and government programs all ask for recent pay stubs when you explore for housing, loans, or benefits. It's also your record of what you were paid and what was taken out, so you can catch errors before they become tax problems.
Key Takeaways
- A payment stub shows your gross pay (before deductions), all deductions, and your net pay (what you actually receive) for one pay period.
- You should keep pay stubs for at least one year to verify your income and catch payroll errors.
- Landlords, mortgage lenders, and benefit programs typically ask for the last two or three months of pay stubs as proof of income.
- If your employer does not provide a stub, you can request one in writing, and they are required to give it to you.
What information appears on a payment stub
Every pay stub contains the same basic sections, though the layout varies by employer. At the top you'll see your name, employee ID, and the pay period dates (the start and end dates of the work you're being paid for). The employer's name and address also appear, along with your address.
The earnings section shows your gross pay—the total amount you earned before anything was taken out. This includes your hourly rate or salary, hours worked (if you're hourly), and any bonuses or overtime. Below that is the deductions section, which lists every amount withheld: federal income tax, state income tax (if your state has one), Social Security tax (6.2% of gross pay), Medicare tax (1.45% of gross pay), health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, and any other deductions your employer makes. At the bottom is your net pay, also called take-home pay—the amount that actually goes into your bank account or arrives as a check.
Many stubs also show year-to-date totals, which add up all your earnings and deductions from January 1 through the current pay period. This helps you track how much you've earned and paid in taxes so far this year.
Why employers must provide payment stubs
Federal law requires employers to give you a record of your pay and deductions. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not specify exactly what form this record must take, but most states have their own laws that require a written pay stub. Some states require stubs to be provided at the time of payment; others allow them to be mailed or posted online.
The reason is straightforward: you have a right to know what you earned and what was withheld. Without a stub, you cannot verify that your employer calculated taxes correctly, deducted the right insurance premiums, or paid you the hours you worked. If there's a dispute later—about unpaid wages, incorrect tax withholding, or missing benefits contributions—the pay stub is your proof.
How to use a payment stub to verify your income
When you need to prove your income to a landlord, lender, or program, you'll typically provide the last two or three months of pay stubs. These show a consistent income history and are more recent than tax returns. Lenders often ask for stubs from the most recent 30 days; landlords may ask for the last 60 days.
Before you hand over a stub, check it for accuracy. Verify that your gross pay matches what you expect based on your hourly rate or salary. Check that the deductions are correct—if you recently changed your health insurance or retirement contributions, make sure the stub reflects that. Look at the year-to-date totals and compare them to your previous stub; your gross pay should be higher (unless you took unpaid time off). If something looks wrong, contact your employer's payroll department right away.
When you submit stubs to a third party, you're giving them proof that you have a job and earn a certain amount. They use this to decide whether you can afford rent, a loan, or to determine your income level for a benefit program. Stubs are more trusted than a verbal statement because they come from your employer, not from you.
What to do if your employer does not provide a payment stub
If you receive a paycheck or direct deposit but no stub, you have the right to request one. Send your employer a written request (email is fine) asking for a pay stub for the pay period in question. Keep a copy of your request. Most employers will provide it within a few days.
If your employer refuses or repeatedly fails to provide stubs, this is a violation of state law in most places. You can file a wage claim with your state's labor department or department of labor. Some states also allow you to sue for unpaid wages or penalties. Before taking that step, try asking your manager or payroll department in person—sometimes it's an oversight rather than intentional.
If you work for a very small employer or are self-employed, you may not receive a stub at all. In that case, you can create your own record by keeping copies of checks, bank statements showing deposits, or invoices you've sent. When you need to prove income, you can use these documents along with your tax return.
How payment stubs connect to your tax return
Your pay stubs throughout the year add up to the numbers on your tax return. The total federal tax withheld on all your stubs should match the federal tax you report on your Form 1040. The year-to-date Social Security and Medicare taxes on your final stub of the year should match what appears on your W-2 form (which your employer sends you by January 31).
This is why keeping stubs matters: if the IRS questions your income or taxes, you can show the stubs as proof. If your W-2 doesn't match what you were actually paid, the stubs help you spot the error. You don't need to send stubs with your tax return, but the IRS can ask for them if they audit you.
Digital pay stubs and online access
Many employers now provide pay stubs through an online portal or app instead of printing them. You log in with your employee ID and password, view your current and past stubs, and read them as PDFs. This is just as legal as a printed stub—the information is the same, and you can print or save it whenever you need it.
If your employer offers online stubs, make sure you know how to access them and that you can read and save copies. Some systems delete old stubs after a certain period, so read and store important ones on your computer or in cloud storage. If you need a stub for a loan or rental process and cannot access the online system, contact your employer and ask for a printed copy or a PDF sent by email.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I keep my pay stubs?
Keep pay stubs for at least one year. After that, you can discard them unless you need them for a specific reason—like proving income for a loan or rental process, or if you're involved in a wage dispute. Many people keep them for three years to match the IRS audit period.
Can I use an old pay stub to prove my current income?
No. Landlords and lenders want recent stubs—usually from the last 30 to 60 days—to confirm you still have that job and income. An old stub shows what you earned in the past, not what you earn now. If you've recently started a job and don't have stubs yet, ask your employer for a written offer letter or employment verification instead.
What if my pay stub shows an error?
Contact your payroll department when ready and explain the error. They can issue a corrected stub and adjust your next paycheck if money was withheld incorrectly. Keep both the original and corrected stub for your records. If the error affected your taxes, you may need to file an amended tax return.
Do I need to provide my full pay stub, or can I redact information?
You can redact sensitive information like your Social Security number or bank account details before handing a stub to a landlord or lender. They only need to see your name, employer, pay period, gross pay, and net pay to verify your income. Ask the person requesting the stub what information they actually need.
What if I'm paid in cash and don't receive a stub?
Request a written pay stub from your employer—they are required to provide one even if you're paid in cash. If they refuse, keep your own records: write down the date, hours worked, and amount paid each time you receive cash. Bank deposits, if you deposit the cash, also serve as proof. You can also file a wage claim with your state's labor department.