Understanding Your Paycheck

Each week payroll is processed and you probably receive a convenient direct deposit into your account. Either your company utilizes an internal payroll team or a payroll service to make this happen on time. However, just because you paycheck is now online and you may not see your paper stub right away or in the mail, you need to make sure to pay attention to your deductions. Not only can you catch human error, but it is also a good way to make sure that your tax allowances are correct as well. Verifying the number of allowances you claim can help you have the right amount of taxes withheld.

Understanding the amount of taxes coming out of your check can be vital to making sure you are able to spend the money you are making. By using the W4 worksheet provided by the government or by using online websites focused on calculating the numbers, you can establish the correct number of allowances and have more of your money in your pocket each month.

If your company takes medical deductions out of your check, make sure you are verifying them for accuracy. Many times these types of deductions may be hand keyed in the system so you want to verify them. A simple error may mean the difference of a couple hundred dollars if you are paying for a family medical plan. You may think you would notice these types of errors right away, but you’d be surprised at what slips through the system because most people don’t verify the information on their paystubs on a regular basis.

If you don’t already, some companies offer the ability to have a 401(k) contribution taken directly from your paycheck. By looking at your paystub you can see if a certain percentage of your earnings or a fixed amount might be a better choice. You can decide how much the right amount is for you. Saving for the future is vital and not something that everyone takes seriously. By checking the amount to see what you can save you will be doing yourself a big favor in the future.

Finally, when you turn in your time for vacation, sick time or have holiday pay owed to you, make sure it is correct. Take a look at those stubs and calculate the amount yourself so that you know it is correct. Take the moment to double check these things so that the check is right and the amount of sick or vacation time you have accrued is correct. You’d hate to have them key your vacation incorrectly, only to find out later you have much less than you expected.

Human error is all around us. However, it doesn’t have to plague your paycheck. Just take a moment to make sure that your paycheck is correct by verifying the deductions and taxes on your paystub each time you get paid. If you can’t seem to find the time with each payroll then do it once a month or once every couple months. If too much time passes you won’t be able to fix the errors that occur. Taking the time now may mean saving yourself time in the future and definitely saving you money in the long run.