Published by W2Paystub. Content and source review: September 3, 2026.
About our guides and source standards
1. Confirm the people and business details
Check the employer name, employee name, and any internal identifiers against the authorized source record. Watch for spelling mistakes and outdated information.
2. Check the dates
Verify the pay-period start and end dates, payment date, and pay frequency. Date errors can make an otherwise accurate document confusing.
3. Recheck hours, rates, and earnings
For hourly pay, multiply eligible hours by the correct rate and review overtime separately. For salary or other compensation, confirm the amount belongs to the selected pay period.
4. Review every deduction
Look at taxes and other authorized deductions one line at a time. Confirm that each label and amount matches the payroll information you are using.
5. Reconcile gross and net pay
Make sure the math moves logically from earnings to deductions and finally to net pay. Investigate any difference rather than forcing the totals to match.
6. Check year-to-date figures
If year-to-date values are included, compare them with earlier payroll records and confirm that the current period has been incorporated correctly.
Final rule: never submit guessed or unauthorized information. Pause and verify the source record whenever a number is unclear.
Sources and related payroll guides
The U.S. Department of Labor lists employer recordkeeping items such as hours, pay rates, earnings, deductions and payment dates. Employer records and employee-facing pay statements are different documents; consult your jurisdiction for wage-statement rules.
U.S. Department of Labor: payroll recordkeeping
State pay stub guides and official agency resources
Pay stub information checklist
Gross pay versus net pay, with an example
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