W-2 vs Pay Stub: What's the Difference?
The Core Difference
- Pay stub — issued every payday, shows earnings/taxes/deductions for one pay period (plus YTD)
- W-2 (Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement) — issued once a year by January 31, summarizes all earnings and tax withholding for the previous calendar year
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Pay Stub | W-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Every pay period (weekly–monthly) | Once per year |
| Issued by | Employer or payroll provider | Employer |
| Purpose | Pay/withholding record | Federal/state tax filing |
| Required by IRS? | No federal mandate (state-dependent) | Yes — must be filed with return |
| Contains SSN | Last 4 only | Full SSN |
| Used for | Loans, rentals, immigration, budgeting | Filing taxes, mortgage, immigration |
What's on a W-2 (Key Boxes)
- Box 1 — Wages, tips, other comp (taxable federal income)
- Box 2 — Federal income tax withheld
- Box 3 — Social Security wages (capped at $176,100 for 2026)
- Box 4 — Social Security tax withheld
- Box 5 — Medicare wages
- Box 6 — Medicare tax withheld
- Box 12 — Special items (401k = D, Roth = AA, HSA = W, etc.)
- Boxes 15–17 — State wages and withholding
- Boxes 18–20 — Local wages and tax
How Your Final Pay Stub Should Match Your W-2
The YTD totals on your December 31 pay stub should reconcile with W-2 boxes:
| W-2 Box | Pay Stub YTD |
|---|---|
| Box 1 (Wages) | YTD Gross − pre-tax 401(k), HSA, Section 125 |
| Box 2 | YTD Federal Tax Withheld |
| Box 3 | YTD Social Security Wages |
| Box 4 | YTD Social Security Tax |
| Box 5 | YTD Medicare Wages |
| Box 6 | YTD Medicare Tax |
If they don't match within a few cents, contact payroll before filing.
When to Use a Pay Stub vs a W-2
- Pay stub — recent rent application, car loan, current proof of income
- W-2 — filing taxes, mortgage applications, immigration/visa support, multi-year income verification
Lost Your W-2?
- Request a copy from your employer (free)
- Download from your payroll portal
- Request a wage and income transcript free from IRS.gov
- See our guide on income verification documents
Create Pay Stubs That Reconcile Cleanly to a W-2
Our generator uses official 2026 IRS tax tables, so the YTD figures on your stubs always tie back to a future W-2 — start here.
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