Paystub Abbreviations Explained: Every Code on Your Pay Stub (2026)

Why Paystubs Are Full of Abbreviations

Federal and state payroll regulations require dozens of separate line items on every paycheck. To fit them in a printable column, payroll software uses 3–5 letter codes. Below is the complete reference — bookmark this page if you ever stare at a stub and wonder what "OASDI SS EE" actually means.

Federal Tax Abbreviations

State and Local Tax Abbreviations

Earnings Abbreviations

Deduction Abbreviations

Cumulative Total Abbreviations

Identity & Reference Abbreviations

Less Common Codes You Might See

• IMP — Imputed income (taxable value of a non-cash benefit like GTL or domestic partner coverage)
• EBPP — Employee Business Premium Pay
• CASDI — California State Disability Insurance specifically
• NYSDI — New York State Disability Insurance
• SECT 125 — Pre-tax cafeteria plan deductions (umbrella term for HSA/FSA/medical premiums)
• K — 401(k), sometimes shortened
• PEN — Pension contribution
• STIP — Stipend
• WC — Workers' Compensation (employer-paid; rarely on employee stub)

How to Read a Mystery Code

If you see something not on this list:

1. Check the back of the stub — many employers print their own legend
2. Ask payroll directly — they're required to explain any deduction under most state wage statement laws
3. Compare to a prior stub — if it appeared once, it might be a one-time adjustment (RETRO, BONUS reversal, etc.)
4. Check your benefits portal — voluntary deductions (gym, parking, charity) often use custom 3-letter codes set by HR

Federal Standard

The U.S. Department of Labor maintains the Wage and Hour Division fact sheets covering required paystub disclosures. There's no federal abbreviation standard — each payroll system picks its own — but the categories above are universal.

Build a Stub With Clear Labels

If you're an employer, freelancer, or self-employed worker who wants every line item spelled out clearly, PayStub LLC's generator uses full descriptive labels alongside the standard codes, so anyone reviewing your stub (lender, landlord, IRS auditor) reads it in seconds.

Bottom Line

Three-letter codes look intimidating but cover only about 40 common categories. Federal taxes (FIT, FICA, OASDI, MED), state taxes (SIT, SDI, SUI), earnings (REG, OT, HOL), deductions (401K, HEALTH, GTL), and totals (YTD, MTD) account for 95% of what you'll ever see. The rest are employer-specific add-ons.