Paycheck checklist 2026
Nine lines to check on your next pay stub. Print this page or keep it open next to your stub.
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Hours × rate, or salary ÷ pay periods (52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly, 12 monthly). Overtime hours over 40 a week must show at 1.5× for non-exempt workers.
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The period dates match the hours you worked, and the pay date matches your employer's schedule. A changed schedule changes the per-check withholding.
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401(k), HSA, FSA and most health premiums come out before income tax. Check the amounts match your enrollment choices.
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Withholding follows your W-4, not your final tax. The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 single and $32,200 married filing jointly. A new job, a second job or a big change in pay is the time to check it.
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6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. After you pass the base in a year, this line should drop to $0. Two employers each withhold it, so with two jobs you can claim the extra back on your return.
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1.45% of all wages, with no cap. Your employer adds 0.9% Additional Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 in the year.
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The state on the stub is the state where you work (and, in some cases, where you live). Nine states have no wage income tax. Check local taxes too, for example in some cities in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
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A bonus paid separately is often withheld at a flat 22% federal (37% on supplemental pay over $1,000,000). That is withholding, not your final rate.
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YTD gross, tax and deductions should add up across your stubs. In December, the YTD figures are a preview of your W-2. Errors are easier to fix before the W-2 is issued.
Rates are for tax year 2026, from the same tables as the StateWage calculators. This is a general checklist, not tax advice. If a line looks wrong, ask your payroll team first.