Using SecurePayStubs Responsibly

A pay stub is a record of real pay: what someone earned, what was withheld and what they took home. SecurePayStubs helps employers, contractors and self-employed people document that pay accurately. Every stub you create should match money that was actually paid.

This page explains when making your own pay stub is legal, what crosses the line into fraud, and what we do to prevent misuse.

When making your own pay stub is legal

Creating a pay stub is legal when it reflects real employment and real payments. Common legitimate uses:

• Employers and small businesses giving employees a statement of wages they paid, with taxes and deductions shown.
• Contractors and freelancers recording payments they actually received from clients.
• Self-employed people documenting income they actually earned, for bookkeeping, taxes or their own records.

Federal law doesn't require employers to give pay stubs. The Fair Labor Standards Act does require employers to keep accurate records of hours worked and wages paid. Many states go further and require a written or electronic wage statement for each payday, with specific details. See pay stub requirements by state.

For the full federal and state rules, see Are employers required to provide pay stubs?

If you're an employee, your employer's payroll records are the official source. If you need a copy of a past stub, ask your employer or payroll provider first.

What counts as pay stub fraud

A pay stub becomes fraudulent when it shows something that isn't true. That includes:

• A job, employer or client that doesn't exist
• Income higher than what was actually paid
• Deductions, taxes or dates that don't match what happened
• Changing a pay stub that someone else issued

Using a false pay stub to get a loan, a lease, benefits or anything else of value is illegal. For example, knowingly making a false statement to influence a federally insured bank or mortgage lender is a federal crime. It carries penalties of up to $1,000,000 in fines and 30 years in prison ( 18 U.S.C. § 1014). State fraud and forgery laws can also apply.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If you're unsure whether a use is lawful, speak to a lawyer before you create or share a pay stub.

Keep your pay stubs consistent with your records

A genuine pay stub agrees with the rest of your financial records. Before you share one, check that:

• Net pay matches the deposit in your bank account for that pay date.
• Year-to-date totals add up across all the stubs for the year.
• Annual figures match your W-2, 1099 forms or tax return.
• Employer names, addresses, and EIN are correct.

Keep a copy of every stub you issue, along with the payroll records behind it.

For a full checklist, see What makes a pay stub legitimate.

What we do to prevent misuse

• Terms of use.Users must be 18 or older and agree not to use documents created on SecurePayStubs for any illegal purpose.
• Authorized use.By creating a pay stub, you confirm you have the legal authority to create payroll documents for the business or person shown.
• Card verification.We ask for a credit or debit card at checkout, including the free first stub.
• Locked details.After a stub is created, the employee's name and the pay period dates can't be edited. This keeps records consistent from one pay period to the next.
• Accurate calculations.Federal, state and local taxes are calculated from current tax tables, so the numbers follow the pay you enter.

Report misuse

If you believe someone has used SecurePayStubs to create a false document, contact us at support@securepaystubs.com

Ready to create an accurate pay stub?

Enter the real pay details, and we calculate the taxes and fill in every required field. Your first pay stub is free.