Can't Wait For Your W-2? Calculate Wages With Your Paystub

4938

When preparing your tax return, the information on your W2 form is usually quite valuable. But you just don't want to wait until February to get your W2 to calculate wages. Well, a paystub can help, too. Your paystub comes with the information you need for your calculations. It gives you details on your take-home pay and employee deductions, such as federal taxes, Medicaid, social security, and state taxes.
In this post, we're going to show you the steps to calculate your wages using the paystub. Read on to find out more.

1. Determine Your Gross Income

First, determine your employee earnings. As a salaried employee, that's usually your hourly rate multiplied by 40 hours per week. It will also show your overtime hours, commissions, and bonuses for a particular pay period. Get the total of all your gross earnings. This is the total amount you usually have before deductions, contributions, and taxes are withdrawn.

2. Deduct Non-Taxable Wages

These are any wages you get that have no state, federal, or income taxes. These include gifts, states without income tax, partnership income, disability wages, and employer insurance. Find the total of your non-taxable wages and deduct the amount from your gross income. With non-taxable wages, keep in mind that it might not apply in all conditions. For example, the income you get due to a scholarship and certain costs, such as tuition fees, are non-taxable. However, the amount you use to board or rent a room is subject to taxes.

Click Here to Create Your Form W-2 in Less Than 2 Minutes

3. Determine the Deductions

Pretax deductions are those deductions you're eligible for, and they help to lower your taxable income amount. Examples include life insurance, health insurance, retirement accounts, employer benefits, and transportation programs. Get their aggregate and subtract the amount from the resulting figure in step 2.
Keep in mind that the total figure after your deductions should match the number in Box 1 on your W2 form when it finally arrives. If they're incorrect, you can take the matter to your company's payroll department. At this point, you'll arrive at your annual income that is subject to federal tax.

4. Estimate Your Annual Taxes

On your paystub, check the current tax column and write down the local, state and income taxes that were withheld. Depending on when you get paid, multiply the amount by that particular pay period. For example, if you get paid monthly, multiply by 12 months. This will give you an overview of the amount of tax that will be withheld for a particular year. It will help you determine if you'll qualify for a tax refund.

Calculate Wages - The Takeaway

With these straightforward steps, you can easily determine your taxable income and understand your wages. However, bear in mind that not all paystubs are the same. They vary by state and employer, so you want to take the time to understand the details on your paystub. Our form W-2 generator has it all, satisfaction guaranteed! Create your own paystubs as well with the paystub maker!


Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can get an accurate estimate of your wages using a paystub, but it is important to be aware of any discrepancies and verify the information when you receive your W-2.

You should wait for your official W-2 to file your taxes, as the information on the W-2 is required for accurate tax reporting and to avoid potential issues with the IRS.

Add up the total amount of deductions, such as insurance premiums and retirement contributions, and subtract this amount from your gross pay.

Add up the total amount of federal, state, and local taxes withheld from your paystub, and subtract this amount from your gross pay.

To calculate your gross pay, simply multiply your hourly wage by the number of hours worked, or use your salary rate if you are a salaried employee.

You will need your gross pay, taxes withheld, and any deductions, such as retirement plan contributions, insurance premiums, or garnishments.

A W-2 form is an annual tax document provided by employers to their employees, detailing their earnings, taxes withheld, and other related information.

If there is a significant discrepancy, contact your employer to verify the information and ensure there were no errors in the preparation of your W-2.

Some individuals may want to estimate their income for budgeting purposes, or they may be anxious to complete their tax return before they receive their W-2.

While the estimate should be close to the amount on your W-2, there may be minor discrepancies due to rounding, errors, or changes in deductions.
Create Your Paystub in 2 minutes

Try our instant paystub generation tool. Flip through our templates page
to chose your best match and receive your stub instantly.

Go ahead and create your own stub now!
Can't Wait For Your W-2? Calculate Wages With Your Paystub
James Wilson

After graduating from McCombs School of Business in Texas, James joined ThePayStubs as a CPA to make sure the numbers we provide our clients are correct. Read More

Related Articles
money back guarantee
100% Security
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gold stars

Great Service

First time creating a stub. Customer support was AMAZING. I had a few self-induced issues and customer support was there from start to end.

Brandon Wilson

Brett Hello! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I'm just a message away!

We respond immediately

Welcome to our chat support! Glad to have you. Please fill out the form for personalized assistance, and we'll be with you right away.
Start the chat