Paycheck Decoder

Walk through a paycheck line by line: what each deduction is, what it does to your tax, and where the money ends up. Compare the estimate with your real pay stub.

Your pay

Estimates use standard withholding (no extra W-4 adjustments). Nothing leaves your browser.

Annual gross pay

Pay frequency

Filing status

Tax year rules

401(k) / 403(b) contribution (% of pay)

Health, dental, vision premiums (per paycheck)

HSA / FSA through payroll (per paycheck)

After-tax deductions (per paycheck)

Roth 401(k), union dues, life insurance, garnishments

State income tax rate (% of pay)

Effective rate. Use 0 for no-income-tax states.

Actual federal withholding on your stub (optional)

Per paycheck. Shows how far off the estimate is.

Where each paycheck went

Why it matters

Line by line

Federal brackets and standard deductions are the IRS figures for the year selected (2026 figures are from the IRS annual inflation adjustments; verify against IRS.gov). Social Security wage base: $176,100 (2025) and $184,500 (2026).
Withholding on a real stub depends on your W-4 (credits, extra withholding, second jobs). This is an estimate for understanding, not payroll advice.
State tax is a flat rate you enter. Local taxes, state disability and unemployment premiums are not included.