When you receive your paycheck, it comes with a pay stub detailing various deductions, contributions, and bonuses. This document can often be overwhelming, filled with terms that might not be immediately clear.
To help you better understand your earnings and deductions, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the most common pay stub terminologies you might encounter.
Essential Pay Stub Generator Terminology
Retirement Plan Contributions
Retirement plan contributions are deducted from your gross pay and placed into retirement savings accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA. These contributions are typically pre-tax, reducing your taxable income for the current year and giving you a tax advantage. Employers may also match some of these contributions, which is free money added to your retirement savings.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
An FSA is a pre-tax benefit account that allows you to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses not covered by your insurance plan. The amount you contribute to your FSA is deducted from your gross pay before taxes, lowering your taxable income. However, FSA funds typically have a “use-it-or-lose-it” rule, meaning unused money may not roll over into the following year.
Child Support Withholding
Child support withholding refers to the amount the employer deducts from an employee’s paycheck to satisfy a court-ordered child support obligation. This deduction is mandated by law and sent directly to the appropriate state child support agency, ensuring the receiving parent’s funds are allocated.
Wage Garnishments
Wage garnishments occur when a court orders your employer to withhold a portion of your earnings to pay off a debt or fulfill a legal obligation, such as unpaid taxes, alimony, or student loans. Garnishments are typically calculated as a percentage of your disposable income, the amount left after mandatory deductions like taxes.
Reimbursements Expense
Expense reimbursements are payments made by an employer to cover business-related expenses paid out of pocket by the employee. Common examples include travel, meals, or office supplies. These reimbursements are generally non-taxable, as they are a repayment rather than income.
Employer Match
An employer match is a contribution your employer makes to your retirement savings plan, matching a portion of your contribution. For instance, if you contribute 5% of your salary to your 401(k), your employer might match that amount to a certain percentage, doubling your retirement savings.
Employee Referral Bonus
An employee referral bonus is a reward given to an employee who refers a candidate successfully hired and stays with the company for a specified period. This bonus is often a cash payment and may be subject to taxes, depending on the employer’s policy.
Moving Expense Reimbursement
Moving expense reimbursement is a non-taxable benefit employers provide to cover the costs associated with an employee’s relocation. This reimbursement can include expenses like transportation, packing, and storage. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended the exclusion for moving expenses for tax years 2018 through 2025, meaning these reimbursements are generally taxable unless you’re an active-duty member of the Armed Forces moving due to a military order.
Relocation Bonus
A relocation bonus is a lump sum payment made to an employee to assist with the costs of relocating for work. Unlike moving expense reimbursements, relocation bonuses are typically taxable and may be added to your gross income on your pay stub.
Hazard Pay
Hazard pay is additional compensation provided to employees who work under dangerous conditions. This could include construction, law enforcement, or healthcare jobs during a pandemic. Hazard pay is typically calculated as a percentage of your base pay and is taxable as regular income.
Call-Back Pay
Call-back pay compensates employees who are called back to work after their regular shift ends. This is common in healthcare or emergency services industries, where employees may need to return to work unexpectedly. Call-back pay is usually calculated at an overtime rate and is taxable.
Standby Pay
Standby pay compensates employees who must be on-call outside their regular working hours. Even if you’re not called into work, the time spent on standby is compensated, often at a reduced rate compared to your regular pay. Standby pay is taxable as regular income.
Per Diem Pay
Per diem pay is a daily allowance given to employees to cover expenses such as meals, lodging, and transportation while traveling for work. Per diem rates are often set by government agencies and vary based on location. Per diem payments are generally non-taxable, provided they do not exceed IRS-established limits.
Non-Taxable Income
Non-taxable income includes earnings that are not subject to federal income tax. Examples include certain insurance benefits, gifts, and inheritances. Non-taxable income may still be reported on your pay stub for informational purposes, but it does not increase your taxable income.
Union Dues
Union dues are regular payments made by union members to support the activities and operations of the union. These dues are typically deducted directly from your paycheck. While union dues are not deductible for tax purposes under the current tax laws, they are essential for maintaining membership and access to union benefits.
Parking and Transit Deductions
Parking and transit deductions allow employees to use pre-tax income to pay for qualified parking and transportation expenses, such as monthly parking passes or public transit fares. These deductions lower your taxable income and can lead to significant tax savings over time.
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Contributions
An HRA is an employer-funded account that reimburses employees for qualified medical expenses. Contributions to an HRA are made solely by the employer and are typically non-taxable. HRAs are valuable as they help employees cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs without increasing their taxable income.
Fringe Benefits
Fringe benefits are additional benefits offered by employers beyond your salary. These may include company cars, gym memberships, or tuition assistance. Some fringe benefits are taxable, while others are not, depending on their nature and value.
Local Income Tax
Local governments levy local income tax on income earned within their jurisdiction. This tax and federal and state taxes are typically deducted from your paycheck. Not all areas impose a local income tax, but the rate can vary significantly in those that do.
Critical Illness Insurance
Critical illness insurance is a type of insurance that provides a lump sum payment if the insured is diagnosed with a severe illness, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Premiums for critical illness insurance may be deducted from your paycheck, and the benefits are generally non-taxable when paid out.
Conclusion
Understanding the various terms and components of your pay stub is crucial for managing your finances and ensuring you are fairly compensated. Each term listed above represents a piece of your overall compensation puzzle, affecting everything from your taxable income to your take-home pay. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can better track your earnings, benefits, and deductions and make more informed decisions about your financial future.
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Understanding Your Pay Stub: A Comprehensive Glossary
Pay Stub Generator Glossary: Key Terms on Your Paycheck
