{
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  "@type": "Dataset",
  "name": "How do you read the deductions on a pay stub?",
  "description": "A pay stub has four zones: gross pay, pre-tax deductions (401(k), health, HSA), taxes (federal, state, FICA), and post-tax deductions (Roth, garnishments). Net pay = gross − all four. The YTD column is the key to spotting errors.",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/answers/how-to-read-pay-stub-deductions",
  "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "RevenueLab",
    "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi"
  },
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "Take-Home Pay Calculator",
    "Paycheck Estimator",
    "NYC Paycheck Calculator"
  ],
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
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  "json": {
    "type": "answer",
    "question": "How do you read the deductions on a pay stub?",
    "shortAnswer": "A pay stub has four zones: gross pay, pre-tax deductions (401(k), health, HSA), taxes (federal, state, FICA), and post-tax deductions (Roth, garnishments). Net pay = gross − all four. The YTD column is the key to spotting errors.",
    "tableTitle": "Anatomy of a typical pay stub",
    "columns": [
      "Zone",
      "Common lines",
      "Reduces taxable income?"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "Earnings",
        "value": "Regular, OT, bonus",
        "note": "This is gross pay"
      },
      {
        "label": "Pre-tax deductions",
        "value": "401(k), health, dental, HSA, FSA",
        "note": "Yes (except FICA still applies to 401(k))"
      },
      {
        "label": "Taxes",
        "value": "Fed withholding, SS, Medicare, state, local",
        "note": "—"
      },
      {
        "label": "Post-tax deductions",
        "value": "Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments",
        "note": "No"
      }
    ],
    "context": "Quick audit: your year-to-date Social Security tax should equal 6.2% of YTD gross wages (up to $176,100 in 2025) — if it's off, payroll made an error. 'FITW' is federal income tax withholding, not a separate tax. If your net pay changed and nothing else did, compare the YTD columns across two stubs to find which line moved. Imputed income (like employer life insurance over $50,000) adds to taxable wages without adding cash.",
    "methodology": "Structure follows the standard US payroll register: earnings → pre-tax deductions → employee taxes → post-tax deductions → net pay, with year-to-date accumulators for each line.",
    "dateModified": "2026-10-01",
    "relatedCalculators": [
      {
        "label": "Take-Home Pay Calculator",
        "to": "/paycheck-take-home-calculator"
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      {
        "label": "Paycheck Estimator",
        "to": "/paycheck-estimator"
      },
      {
        "label": "NYC Paycheck Calculator",
        "to": "/nyc-paycheck-calculator"
      }
    ],
    "relatedReading": [
      {
        "label": "How to calculate net pay from gross",
        "to": "/answers/how-to-calculate-net-pay-from-gross"
      }
    ]
  }
}