Anatomy of a paycheck
Anatomy of a paycheck
Staring at your paycheck and wondering where all the money went? It didn't just disappear. But you probably want to know why you got paid less than you thought. That's where your paystub comes in.
Whether you get a paper or a digital paycheck, you should get a paystub that explains what you earned—and how much was taken out. You might see "deductions" for taxes or benefits like health insurance, parking, and maybe even retirement. Here are some things to know:
Federal income taxes
This is money withheld (which is another way of saying deducted) from your check for the US government.
The amount is calculated based on a bunch of things, including how you filled out W-4 paperwork when you started your job and how much you earn.
State income taxes
Most—but not all—states collect income taxes too.
The amount is different for everyone and you may have to pay for the state where you live and/or the state where you work.
FICA
Short for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, FICA is the US federal payroll tax.
It might appear as 2 deductions from your check, including 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. These are government programs that most workers pay into.
- YTD is year to date—which means the beginning of the year until now.
- Pay period tells you the dates you're being paid for.
- Your gross pay is what you earned BEFORE anything was deducted
- Your pay, also called your "take home pay," is what you get AFTER any deductions were taken out.
The bottom line
"I love taxes!" said no one ever. But once you start making your own money—whether by working or investing—you need to know what you're expected to pay.
So talk to someone you trust, or even a tax advisor or financial professional ... because taxes, amirite?
Anatomy of a Paycheck