Pay stub checker
Type six numbers from any pay stub. The checker tests Social Security at 6.2%, Medicare at 1.45%, net pay against every deduction, and YTD against the pay date, using 2026 rules. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Updated 2026-10-02 · 2026 tax year
What the checker looks for
- Social Security. 6.2% of FICA wages, stopping once YTD passes $184,500. A stub that keeps charging it above the cap, or charges a different rate, was not run through payroll software.
- Medicare. 1.45% of the same wages, with no cap, plus 0.9% above $200,000.
- Net pay. Gross minus every tax and deduction, to the cent. Edited stubs often change net pay and forget the lines above it.
- YTD. Year-to-date gross divided by this period's gross should be close to the number of paychecks since January 1. A big gap can be a raise or a mid-year start, or a stub built backwards.
- Federal withholding. It varies with the W-4, so the checker only flags extreme values.
Then verify the source
Math only tells you the stub was made carefully. Call the employer using a number you find yourself, not one printed on the stub, or ask for bank statements that show the deposits. Stubs made with PaystubLine carry a code you can check at paystubline.com/verify. For a longer list, read how to spot a fake pay stub.
Questions
How can you tell if a pay stub is fake?
Check the arithmetic first. Social Security should be 6.2% of FICA wages and Medicare 1.45%, net pay must equal gross minus every line, and YTD should match the number of paychecks so far this year. Then confirm employment with the employer directly. Our checker runs the arithmetic tests for you.
Does a consistent stub prove income?
No. Correct math shows the stub was made carefully, not that the money was paid. Ask for bank statements that show the deposits, or verify with the employer.
Why would Social Security be lower than 6.2%?
Section 125 deductions such as pre-tax health premiums reduce FICA wages. Enter them in the pre-tax field and the expected amount adjusts. Social Security also stops once YTD wages pass $184,500 in 2026.