Paystub guides
Clear instructions for documenting income you actually earned. Learn what belongs on a payment record, how the math works, and what evidence to keep with it.
- How-to
How to make a paystub in 30 seconds
Learn how to make a paystub from a real payment, choose the right classification, check YTD and tax estimates, and save the supporting records.
- How-to
How to read a pay stub, field by field
Learn how to read a pay stub from payer and pay-period fields through gross pay, deductions, net pay, and year-to-date totals.
- How-to
What is YTD on a pay stub?
See what YTD means on a pay stub, how the total carries between periods, why income reviewers check it, and how to find YTD errors.
- How-to
How to calculate self-employment tax
Learn how to calculate self-employment tax as an estimate with Schedule SE, plan estimated payments, and read the estimate on a 1099 record.
- How-to
1099 vs W-2 explained
See how 1099 contractor and W-2 employee status differ in control, tax treatment, withholding, benefits, pay records, and IRS classification.
- How-to
What is an owner's draw?
Learn what an owner's draw is, how it differs from salary and guaranteed payments, why the draw has no FICA withholding, and which records support it.
- Proof of income
How to prove income without pay stubs
Learn how tax returns, bank statements, 1099s, invoices, and benefit letters can prove income, and where a self-prepared period summary fits.
- Proof of income
Self-employed proof of income: the document stack
Build self-employed proof of income with tax returns, bank statements, and a self-prepared period summary matched to your type of income.
- Comparison
Best paystub generator 2026: a dated comparison
Compare 11 paystub generators using dated prices, free-preview policies, plain concessions, and no unsupported ratings or review claims.
- Comparison
Self-prepared income record vs full payroll service
See when a period-level payment record fits, when employee payroll is required, and how to compare the two annual cost formulas.
- Comparison
Free paystub template vs generator
Compare a free paystub template with a generator for YTD carry-forward, formula errors, classification labels, and a free watermarked preview.
- Comparison
Paystub generator alternatives
Compare 10 paystub generator alternatives from a dated registry, see what maps when switching, and open every full vendor comparison.