Paycheck vs Pay Stub: The Difference and Where to Get Records
Learn the difference between a paycheck and a pay stub, how direct deposit fits in, and where to request an official payroll record.
A paycheck is a way to pay wages; a pay stub explains the earnings and deductions behind that payment. With direct deposit there may be no paper check, but the employer or payroll provider can still provide the payroll record.
Payment and explanation are different records
| Question | Paycheck | Pay stub |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Payment instrument | Explanation of wages |
| Issued by | Employer or payment process | Employer or payroll provider |
| What it shows | Payment amount and payee | Earnings, deductions and net pay |
A bank deposit can help identify a payment, but it does not by itself replace every payroll record or explain how earnings and deductions were calculated.
What changes with direct deposit
The payment may arrive electronically while the payroll record is delivered through an employer portal or payroll provider. Check the pay date and net amount against the deposit, then use the issued stub for the earnings and deduction details.
Request a missing pay stub
Check the employer payroll portal, then contact the employer or payroll provider. Confirm the pay period and your identity through their process. Ask them to correct discrepancies in the issued record.
For layout only, see an illustrative pay stub layout.
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