# Understand my pay stub and where my paycheck goes

A plain-language breakdown of every line on your pay stub, what to double-check, and questions for payroll.

- Topic: Personal Life & Wellbeing
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Explain & Teach, Code, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/understand-my-pay-stub-and-where-my-paycheck-goes

## Prompt

```text
Explain my pay stub in plain language.

**My pay stub details:** [PASTE THE LINES - gross pay, each deduction, employer contributions, net pay, year-to-date totals. Remove my name, address, ID numbers, and account numbers first.]
**Country and state or region:** [LOCATION]
**How I'm paid:** [hourly / salary, pay frequency]
**What I expected to get:** [AMOUNT, or "not sure"]
**Anything that confuses me:** [e.g. "why net pay dropped this month", "what is this code"]

Give me:
1. A table: Line item | What it is in plain words | Required or optional | Amount.
2. The path from gross to net pay as a simple calculation, using only my numbers.
3. Anything that looks unusual or worth checking: a deduction that changed, missing overtime, a benefit I didn't choose, year-to-date totals that don't add up.
4. Which deductions I may be able to change (for example retirement contributions, withholding elections, benefit choices) and where that's usually done.
5. Polite questions to ask payroll or HR if something seems off.

Don't guess tax rates or what a code means if it isn't clear; label it [ASK PAYROLL]. This is general information; for withholding decisions, check official tax guidance or a tax professional.
```

## What to fill in

- LOCATION
- hourly / salary, pay frequency
- AMOUNT, or "not sure"
- e.g. "why net pay dropped this month", "what is this code"
- ASK PAYROLL

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.