Paystub generator
Build a check stub with hourly or salaried earnings, 1.5× overtime, withholding, deductions and year-to-date totals. Preview your stub, then download for $10 or apply a valid free-download coupon.
Create a paystubW-2 · Paystub · 1099 · One-time price · $10
2023–2026 tax years
Prepare a clear W-2
without the paperwork maze.
Enter figures from your payroll records, review every box, and download one employee's W-2 copy set for $10.
Encrypted details About 8 minutes Review before paying
Step 1 of 6 · Tax year
Choose the tax year
Use the year when the wages were paid.
Before you begin: Have the employer EIN, employee SSN, address details, and final payroll totals ready. This service prepares copies and does not submit Copy A to the SSA.
Three payroll documents, one place
W-2 Simple prepares the documents small businesses, freelancers and employees ask for most often. Every generator shows a live preview before you download, so you can check each figure against your own records.
1099-NEC generator
Report nonemployee compensation of $600 or more for 2023 through 2026, including federal withholding and state tax boxes, with the recipient copy set.
Create a 1099-NECW-2 form generator
Prepare one employee's W-2 copy set in a standard four-page layout or a compact one-page layout for 2023 through 2026. $10, reviewed before you pay.
Start a W-2What is a pay stub?
A pay stub is the record you keep after cashing a payroll check. It shows the pay period, gross wages, hours worked, taxes withheld, deductions and net pay — the amount the employee actually takes home. It is also called a payslip, paycheck stub, earnings statement or payroll stub.
A stub is not just a receipt. It is the running record of salary information, overtime pay, employer contributions and taxes paid, which is why it is accepted as proof of income for loans, rentals and tax filing. When a W-2 is late or misplaced, a set of pay stubs can be used to reconstruct the same figures.
How the check stub maker works
- Enter the company name, work schedule and salary details.
- Choose a theme and preview the finished pay stub.
- Download and print the stub instantly.
Who needs a pay stub?
Pay stub documents matter most at tax time, but employees, employers and self-employed workers all rely on them throughout the year.
Employees
Proof of income, income verification and tax filing. If a W-2 was late or misplaced, a paystub can supply the same data.
Employers
A record of every payment made. Essential for the human resource department if an employee disputes their pay, and best practice for business records.
Entrepreneurs
Contractors and freelancers rarely earn a steady wage, so a document recording earnings, deductions and tax set aside keeps the books straight.
Do I have to give pay stubs to my employees?
There is no federal law that requires employers to hand out pay stubs, but the Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to keep accurate payroll records. Several states do require a written or electronic stub, so check the rule for the state where your business operates.
How an employee can get a pay stub
- Direct deposit. Digital proof of income instead of a physical stub.
- Check stub maker. Generate a stub online in a few minutes from a template.
- Previous employer. Contact the payroll department for copies of past stubs.
Payroll deduction codes explained
Pay stubs use short codes for each withholding line. These are the ones you will see most often.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FED TAX | Federal income tax withheld |
| STATE TX | State income tax withheld |
| MEDICARE | Federal Medicare withheld |
| FICA | Employee's portion of Social Security |
| ERA | Educational Retirement Act contributions |
What are pay stubs useful for?
Pay stubs are one of the most commonly accepted documents for showing proof of wages. Bank statements and tax returns work too, but a current stub is the fastest way to be ready for a request.
Loan application
Lenders review recent stubs to confirm income before approving a personal or business loan.
Renting an apartment
Landlords commonly ask for the last 30 to 60 days of pay stubs with a rental application.
Large purchases
A stub verifies identity and ability to pay for a vehicle, appliance or financing agreement.
Tax filing
Stubs show wages paid and taxes withheld when a W-2 is late, misplaced or not issued.
Compensation claims
Earnings records support workers' compensation and disability claims.
Visa and immigration
Proof of income is often required for visa, sponsorship and travel documentation.
Real and fake pay stubs
Not every online check stub maker is the same, and submitting a fabricated document to a lender, landlord or government agency can lead to a declined credit line, a lost job, fraud charges, penalties and jail time. Use a generator to reproduce your own payroll records accurately, and never to misrepresent income.
Payroll for small and medium businesses
Paper payroll takes hours of employee time that could go to revenue-generating work, and paper records can be lost or destroyed. Moving to a digital process — generating stubs, keeping digital copies and emailing employees their records — removes storage worries and reduces manual calculation errors.
If employees are complaining about inaccurate manual calculations or late stubs, or if staff turnover is causing burnout, a streamlined stub process is usually the cheapest fix. When you move to electronic stubs, confirm the rules for your state, because not every state treats electronic delivery the same way.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pay stub?
A pay stub is the record an employer keeps or gives an employee after each pay period. It shows gross wages, hours worked, taxes withheld, deductions and net pay. It is also called a payslip, paycheck stub or earnings statement.
How does the W-2 Simple generator work?
Enter your company details, the employee or recipient information and your payroll figures. Preview the finished document, then download a print-ready PDF. Downloads cost $10 per document set. Apply a valid free-download coupon to skip payment.
Can a pay stub be used as proof of income?
Yes. Pay stubs are one of the most common documents used to verify wages for a loan, a mortgage, an apartment application or a rental agreement. Many landlords and lenders ask for the most recent 30 to 60 days of stubs.
Do I have to give pay stubs to my employees?
There is no federal law that requires employers to hand out pay stubs, but the Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to keep accurate payroll records. Several states do require a written or electronic pay stub, so check the rules for the state where your business operates.
What is the difference between a W-2 and a 1099-NEC?
A W-2 reports wages paid to an employee, with income tax, Social Security and Medicare withheld. A 1099-NEC reports payments of $600 or more made to a nonemployee such as an independent contractor, and no income tax is withheld by the payer.
Is my information private?
Document details are encrypted with AES-256-GCM. Drafts expire after 24 hours and generated document snapshots are removed after 7 days.
Does W-2 Simple file my forms with the IRS or SSA?
No. W-2 Simple prepares employee and employer record copies only. It does not file Copy A with the Social Security Administration, does not file 1099-NEC forms with the IRS, and does not provide tax advice.