Your pay stub uses short codes like FIT, FICA, OASDI, and YTD. This guide tells you what each one means in plain English so you can read your check with confidence.
FIT means Federal Income Tax. Your employer takes it out based on your W-4. Use our free paycheck calculator to see how it affects your take-home pay.
When you scan your stub, start with gross pay at the top and net pay at the bottom. Everything in between explains where your money went.
Source: IRS Topic 751; SSA 2026 wage base ($184,500).
FIT = Federal Income Tax. Your employer withholds it from each check based on your W-4. You settle the total when you file your return.
What is FIT on my paycheck?
FIT = Federal Income Tax. Your employer withholds it from each check. The amount depends on your W-4 and pay.
Your employer must show what it takes from your pay. Your stub lists your taxes, your benefits, and your net pay.
FIT is not a flat rate. You can change it by updating your W-4. Too much FIT means a refund. Too little means you owe at tax time. See our 2026 W-4 guide.
| Abbreviation | Stands for | What it means on your pay stub |
|---|---|---|
| FIT / FWT / FED | Federal Income Tax | Your federal tax withheld from your pay |
| SIT / ST TAX | State Income Tax | Your state tax withheld from your pay |
| FICA | Payroll taxes | Your Social Security plus your Medicare (7.65%) |
| OASDI / Fed OASDI/EE / SS | Social Security | Your 6.2% Social Security tax up to the cap |
| Fed MED/EE / MED | Medicare | Your 1.45% Medicare tax on all wages |
| Addl MED | Extra Medicare | Your extra 0.9% tax on pay over $200,000 |
| EE | Employee | Your share taken from your pay |
| ER | Employer | Your employer pays this, not you |
| YTD | Year to Date | Your running total since January 1 |
| GRS / GROSS | Gross Pay | Your pay before any deductions |
| NET / NET PAY | Net Pay | Your take-home pay after deductions |
| REG | Regular | Your pay for your regular hours |
| OT | Overtime | Your extra pay for overtime hours |
| HOL | Holiday | Your pay for holiday hours you worked |
| PTO / VAC | Paid Time Off | Your pay for your vacation or PTO hours |
| SDI | State Disability | Your state disability tax in some states |
| SUI / SUTA | Unemployment | Usually paid by your employer, not you |
| 401K | 401(k) | Your retirement savings from your pay |
| HSA | Health Savings | Your pre-tax money for your medical bills |
| FSA | Spending Account | Your pre-tax money for your health or care |
| INS / MED INS | Insurance | Your health or dental premium |
| LTD / STD | Disability | Your disability insurance premium |
| GTL | Group Life | Tax on your employer life insurance over $50k |
| CHGB / GARN | Garnishment | Court-ordered money taken from your pay |
| ARRS | Arrears | Your back pay from a prior pay period |
| IMP / Imp Inc | Imputed Income | Taxable value of your fringe benefit |
| LV / LWOP | Unpaid Leave | Your unpaid leave hours |
Taxes on your pay stub
Four tax lines show up on almost every stub you receive:
- FIT (Federal Income Tax) - Based on your W-4. You can change how much is withheld.
- FICA - You pay Social Security (6.2%) plus Medicare (1.45%). Your total is 7.65%.
- FICA labels - Some stubs show one FICA line. Others split OASDI and Fed MED/EE. See our FICA explained guide.
- OASDI / Fed OASDI/EE - This is your Social Security tax. You pay 6.2% up to $184,500 in 2026.
- OASDI cap - Once you hit the wage base, your Social Security tax stops for the year.
- Fed MED/EE (Medicare) - You pay 1.45% on all your wages. You may pay an extra 0.9% over $200,000.
EE vs ER on your stub
Two of the most confusing codes are EE and ER:
EE = Employee
A line marked EE is taken from your pay. Fed MED/EE is one example.
Shows on your stub as /EE
ER = Employer
A line marked ER is paid by your employer. It is not taken from your check. Your employer also matches your Social Security and Medicare.
Usually not deducted from your check
So "Fed OASDI/EE $124" is your 6.2% Social Security deduction; an "OASDI/ER" line is your employer's matching share.
What does YTD mean on a pay stub?
YTD = Year to Date - the running total of an amount from January 1 through the current pay period.
YTD columns show your running totals since January 1. They reset every new year. See why your paycheck went down if January looks different.
| YTD column | What it tracks | 2026 note |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Gross Pay | Your earnings so far this year | Should match pay periods times salary |
| YTD OASDI/EE | Social Security you paid so far | Stops at $11,439 in 2026 |
| YTD 401(k) | Retirement savings so far | Max $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+) |
State codes on your stub
SDI (State Disability Insurance)
A few states take a small share of your pay for short-term disability. See our California paycheck guide.
SUI / SUTA (State Unemployment)
Your employer usually pays this. Only a few states take a small share from your pay.
SUI lines marked /ER are almost always employer-only - if you see SUI/EE, check your state rules.
Pre-tax vs post-tax deduction codes
Pre-tax codes
Codes like 401K, HSA, and FSA are usually pre-tax. They lower your taxable pay. Social Security and Medicare still apply to 401(k) pay.
- 401K - retirement deferral
- HSA - health savings account
- FSA - flexible spending account
Post-tax or varies
Codes like INS or GARN may be pre-tax or post-tax. It depends on your plan.
- INS - health/dental/vision premiums
- GARN - court-ordered garnishments
The difference affects your take-home pay and your tax bill - see gross vs net income.
-> Full pre-tax vs post-tax guide Pre-Tax vs Post-Tax Deductions: Which Saves You More? Side-by-side comparison of every common deduction type, with real-dollar examples of how pre-tax elections change your take-home pay.How to read your pay stub in 4 steps
Find your GROSS - your total pay before any taxes or benefits come out.
Subtract your taxes - FIT, your state tax, and your FICA lines.
Subtract your benefits - your 401(k), insurance, HSA, or FSA.
Check your NET - this should match your direct deposit. Use your YTD columns to track your yearly totals.
Plug your numbers into our paycheck calculator to check that your stub matches what you should owe.
Plug your salary, state, and deductions into our calculators to see if your stub is withholding the right amounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is FIT on my paycheck?
What is the difference between FIT and FICA?
What does Fed OASDI/EE mean on my paycheck?
What does EE and ER mean on a pay stub?
What does YTD mean on my paycheck?
What is Fed MED/EE on my paycheck?
Sources & methodology
This guide is general information, not tax advice. Pay stub formats and codes vary by employer and payroll provider. Consult your HR/payroll department or a tax professional for your specific stub.
- IRS - Understanding employment taxes (FIT, FICA). irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-employment-taxes
- SSA - 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500). ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html
- IRS Topic No. 751 - Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not tax advice. Pay stub formats and codes vary by employer and payroll provider. Consult your HR/payroll department or a tax professional for your specific stub.