Year-End Pay Stubs and Tax Filing
Reconciling your final pay stub to your W-2, calculating take-home pay, and getting ready for tax season.
Your final pay stub of the year is the most important one you receive. It's the document that should match your W-2 box-for-box, the document that reveals whether you're under- or over-withheld, and the document tax software will ask for if you e-file before your W-2 arrives. The articles below walk through year-end reconciliation, the math behind take-home pay, and every deduction that shows up on a US pay stub.
Articles and tools in this topic
How to Match Your Final Pay Stub to Your W-2
Box-by-box reconciliation: W-2 box 1, box 3, and box 5 each have different rules. Here's how they map to YTD on your December stub.
How to Calculate Your Take-Home Pay (2026 Tax Brackets)
Five-step calculation from gross to net pay using current federal brackets, FICA, and pre-tax deductions. Worked examples at $40K, $75K, and $120K.
Every Pay Stub Deduction Explained (2026)
Federal tax, state tax, FICA, health insurance, 401(k), HSA, FSA — every line item explained with current rates and thresholds.
What Does YTD Mean on a Pay Stub? (And Why It Resets)
Year-to-date totals, why they reset on January 1, and the multi-employer trap that causes Social Security over-withholding.
Pay Stub vs Paycheck: What's the Difference?
Why the pay stub matters more than the check itself — and why lenders and landlords always want the stub.
Pay Stub Abbreviations: Complete Glossary
FED, FICA, OASDI, MED, SUI, SUTA, GTL, FSA, HSA — every cryptic acronym on your stub explained.
How Long Should You Keep Pay Stubs?
IRS retention rules, secure-disposal advice, and a simple system for keeping records without a filing cabinet.
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