Paycheck Stub Abbreviations Explained: What Each Term Means

Paycheck stubs have important information about your earnings, but if you don't know what the abbreviations and codes mean, they can be hard to understand. As an employer to create an accurate paystub or if you an employee review your earnings, understanding these acronyms is important for compliance, clarity, and openness in finances.
This guide breaks down the most common acronyms used on pay stubs, what they mean, and how they affect gross wage, deductions, and net pay.

Common Earnings Abbreviations on a Pay Stub

REG (Regular Pay)

Standard wages earned for normal working hours during the pay period.

OT (Overtime)

Additional pay is generally 1.5 times the hourly rate for hours worked on top of regular hours.

OT HR or Overtime Hourly

Overtime earnings are calculated strictly on an hourly basis.

DT (Double Time)

Pay calculated at twice the employee’s regular rate of pay (2×) for qualifying hours worked.

BON (Bonus)

Extra compensation awarded for performance, milestones, or incentives. Bonuses are generally taxable.

COMM (Commission)

Earnings based on sales or performance, commonly used in sales roles.

TIPS

Employees often get tips, which are called gratuities. When reported, tips are typically taxed.

PTO (Paid Time Off)

Paid leave for vacation, personal time, illness, or other approved absences.

RETRO (Retroactive Pay)

Additional pay owed for work performed in a previous pay period.

VAC or VAC PAY (Vacation Pay)

Wages paid while an employee is on approved vacation leave.

SICK or SICK PAY

Compensation provided for time off due to illness.

AWD (Award)

Employers sometimes give bonuses or other rewards to employees who do a good job. Tax treatment depends on the award type.

PRZ (Prize)

Prizes in the form of cash or cash equivalents from events or promotions are usually taxed.

ALLOWANCE (Allowance)

Additional payment provided for specific expenses or purposes.

REIMB (Reimbursement)

Payment that repays employees for eligible work-related expenses.

SHIFT DIFF (Shift Differential)

Extra pay for working less desirable or special shifts.

GROSS (Gross Pay)

Total earnings before any taxes or deductions are applied.

Tax Abbreviations Commonly Seen on Pay Stubs

FEDERAL TAXES

FIT / FITW (Federal Income Tax Withholding)

Federal income tax withheld from an employee’s wages based on the employee’s Form W-4 information.

SIT (State Income Tax)

State tax withheld depending on the employee’s work or residence state.

FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act)

A wage tax that pays for both Medicare and Social Security.

SS (Social Security Tax)

The amount of your paycheck that is taken out to pay for your Social Security benefits, such as retirement, disability, and death payments.

MED or MEDI (Medicare Tax)

The portion of your paycheck withheld to fund Medicare, which provides health insurance for individuals aged 65 and older and certain disabled people.

FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act)

Federal unemployment tax generally paid by employers.

FIT ADDL (Additional Federal Withholding)

Extra federal income tax withheld from an employee’s wages beyond the standard withholding amount, as elected on Form W-4, Step 4(c).

STATE & LOCAL TAXES

SIT / SWT (State Income Tax Withholding)

State income tax withheld from an employee’s wages based on applicable state rules.

SDI (State Disability Insurance)

Employee-funded state disability insurance withholding in applicable states.

SUI / SUTA (State Unemployment Insurance / State Unemployment Tax Act)

State unemployment tax, generally an employer-paid payroll tax.

LIT / LWT (Local Income Tax / Local Wage Tax)

Local income or wage tax imposed by a city, county, or school district.

TRANSIT (Local Transit Tax)

Local tax or surcharge that helps fund public transportation.

CITY TAX (City Wage Tax)

Local wage or income tax imposed by certain cities.

Deduction Abbreviations Explained

PRE-TAX DEDUCTIONS

401k/ 401(k)

Retirement contributions deducted from wages, usually pre-tax.

ROTH/ R401(k) or Roth 401(k)

Post-tax retirement contributions that do not reduce taxable income.

403B/ 403(b)

Pre-tax retirement plan for nonprofit and educational employees.

457/ 457(b)

some government and charity workers can get a retirement plan.

HLTH or HINS (Health Insurance)

Employees contribute to health insurance plans offered by their employers.

DENT (Dental Insurance)

Payroll deductions for dental coverage.

VIS (Vision Insurance)

Deductions for vision care plans.

HSA (Health Savings Account)

Pre-tax contributions for qualified medical expenses.

FSA/ HCFSA (Flexible Spending Account/ Health Care FSA)

Pre-tax funds for healthcare or dependent care expenses.

DCFSA/ DEPCARE (Dependent Care FSA)

Pre-tax deductions used for eligible child or dependent care costs.

LIFE / GTL (Group Term Life Insurance)

Employer-provided life insurance; coverage above $50,000 may create taxable imputed income.

STD / LTD (Short-Term / Long-Term Disability)

Disability insurance that provides income replacement during qualifying periods of disability.

PARKING (Pre-Tax Parking)

Pre-tax employee contribution for eligible commuter parking benefits.

TRANSIT BEN (Pre-Tax Transit Benefit)

Pre-tax benefit for eligible bus, rail, or vanpool transportation.

CAFETERIA / SEC. 125 (Cafeteria Plan)

Employer benefit plan that allows employees to choose certain benefits, often on a pre-tax basis.

POST - TAX DEDUCTIONS

ROTH CATCH (Roth Catch-Up Contribution)

Additional Roth retirement contribution for eligible employees who qualify for catch-up contributions.

UNION (Union Dues)

Employee-paid membership fees for a union.

GARNISH (Wage Garnishment)

Court-ordered withholding from an employee’s wages.

CHILD SUP (Child Support)

Court-ordered withholding for child support payments.

LEVY (Tax Levy)

Legal withholding from wages to collect unpaid taxes.

CHARITY (Charitable Contribution)

Employee-authorized payroll deduction for charitable giving.

EE LOAN (Employee Loan Repayment)

Repayment of an employer loan or employee advance.

SUPP LIFE (Supplemental Life Insurance)

Employee-paid premium for additional life insurance coverage.

PET INS (Pet Insurance)

Employee-paid premium for voluntary pet insurance coverage.

LEGAL (Legal Insurance)

Employee-paid premium for a legal services benefit plan.

Employer Contributions

ER 401K (Employer 401(k) Contribution)

Employer contribution or match to an employee’s 401(k) plan.

ER MED (Employer Medical Premium)

Employer-paid share of group health insurance costs.

ER HSA (Employer HSA Contribution)

Employer contribution to an employee’s Health Savings Account.

ER PENSION (Employer Pension Contribution)

Employer funding for an employee’s pension plan.

ER LIFE (Employer Basic Life Insurance)

Employer-paid basic group life insurance coverage.

FICA-ER (Employer FICA Contribution)

Employer share of Social Security and Medicare taxes.

FUTA-ER (Employer FUTA)

Federal unemployment tax paid by the employer.

Pay Summary Fields

GROSS PAY (Gross Pay)

Total earnings before taxes and deductions.

TAXABLE WAGES (Taxable Wages)

Wages subject to a particular payroll tax after applicable exclusions.

NET PAY (Net Pay)

Amount remaining after taxes and deductions.

YTD (Year-to-Date)

Running total from the beginning of the year through the current pay period.

QTD (Quarter-to-Date)

Running total for the current quarter.

MTD (Month-to-Date)

Running total for the current month.

CUR / CURRENT (Current Period)

Amount earned or deducted during the current pay period.

HRS / HOURS (Hours Worked)

Total hours worked or paid during the pay period.

RATE (Pay Rate)

Employee’s hourly rate or salary rate.

PAY DATE (Payment Date)

Date the employee receives payment.

PAY PERIOD (Pay Period)

Start and end dates covered by the pay stub.

CHECK NO. (Check / Voucher Number)

Reference number assigned to the payment.

EE ID / EMP ID (Employee ID)

Unique internal identifier assigned to an employee.

SSN / LAST 4 (Social Security Number)

Full or masked Social Security number used for identification and tax reporting.

FILING STATUS (Tax Filing Status)

Employee’s federal tax filing status used for withholding purposes.

EXEMPTIONS (Withholding Allowances)

Legacy withholding allowances used under pre-2020 Forms W-4.

Why Understanding Pay Stub Abbreviations Matters

• For employees, knowing the acronyms on their pay stubs helps them make sure that their wages and deductions are correct.
• For employers, it makes payroll clear, reduces disputes, and helps them follow federal and state pay stub rules.

Final Thoughts

Paycheck stub acronyms might look hard to understand at first, but it's easy to read once you know what each one means. These acronyms will help you stay informed and sure of yourself whether you're looking over your paycheck or making pay stubs for your business.

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This article was last updated on October 22, 2026.