Find the code printed on your pay stub, then check its full explanation and example. Some labels are widely used; others belong to a particular employer. A matching abbreviation alone does not establish the tax treatment or authorise a deduction.
Read the column as well as the code
Start with gross pay, employee taxes and deductions, then reconcile net pay to your bank deposits. YTD is a running total, not another current deduction. EE often identifies employee amounts and ER employer amounts, as in LTD ER.
Common distinctions that prevent mistakes
- FITW is federal income tax; FICA covers Social Security and Medicare.
- MED can mean a medical premium or Medicare, depending on the employer and column.
- ESPP commonly means Employee Stock Purchase Plan. C529 relates to Section 529 education savings.
- “Exempt employee” in a leave code does not mean the wages are exempt from income tax.
Browse the complete code directory
The tables include the detailed legacy guides as well as the recent code explanations. Equivalent spellings lead to one shared explanation.
Pay stub totals and identifying information
Start with the pay date and period, identify whose statement it is, then separate current amounts from year-to-date totals.
Earnings, overtime and pay adjustment codes
Distinguish a pay rate, hours worked, gross earnings and the money actually deposited. Extra rows can record a premium or a correction rather than another full payment.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| ACT | Acting pay for temporary duties Confirm with employer |
| ADD | Additional pay Confirm with employer |
| CNT PAY | Contract pay Confirm with employer |
| CPO / Cmp Pyot | Compensatory-time payout |
| CPT | Compensatory time taken Confirm with employer |
| CVA | Conversion advance Confirm with employer |
| DOK | Docked pay or pay reduction Confirm with employer |
| FSS | Faculty summer salary Confirm with employer |
| GROSS | Gross pay before deductions |
| HR | Hourly rate |
| HRS | Hours |
| NET | Take-home pay |
| ONCALL | On-call compensation |
| OT | Overtime pay |
| OT@1.5 | Overtime at time and a half |
| OT@2 | Overtime or premium pay at double time |
| REG | Regular pay |
| SAJ | Staff salary adjustment Confirm with employer |
| SAVTAX | Salary advance or related tax entry Confirm with employer |
| SI | Supplemental income or supplemental wages |
| SIGNON | Sign-on bonus |
| SLRY | Salary |
Federal, state and local payroll tax codes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state or local taxes use different rules and sometimes different wage bases.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| EIC | Earned Income Credit |
| FICA | Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes |
| FITW | Federal income tax withholding |
| FUTA | Federal unemployment tax |
| FUTA SUI | Federal and state unemployment insurance |
| LOCAL TAX | Local income or wage tax |
| LST | Local Services Tax Confirm with employer |
| MED | Medical premium or Medicare: an ambiguous label |
| Medicare | Medicare payroll tax |
| OASDI | Social Security payroll tax |
| PCN | Philadelphia wage-tax label for nonresidents Confirm with employer |
| PCR | Philadelphia wage-tax label for residents Confirm with employer |
| SITW / SIT | State income tax withholding |
| SMD | Maryland state withholding label Confirm with employer |
| SNJ | New Jersey state withholding label Confirm with employer |
| SOH | Ohio state withholding label Confirm with employer |
| SPA | Pennsylvania state withholding label Confirm with employer |
| ss-r On Paycheck Meaning | It refers to the portion of your earnings that is withheld to fund your future Social Security retirement benefits. This deduction is a standard part of payroll taxes in most emplo |
| Understanding SUI in Payroll USA | When reviewing a payslip in the United States, you may come across the abbreviation SUI. This stands for State Unemployment Insurance, a key payroll tax that employers must pay in |
| SVA | Virginia state withholding label Confirm with employer |
| UPA | Pennsylvania unemployment contribution label Confirm with employer |
Retirement contributions and plan codes
Identify the plan, who contributed, the eligible earnings base and whether an employee contribution is traditional or Roth.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| 401(k) | 401(k) retirement contribution |
| ERP | Early-retirement payment or adjustment Confirm with employer |
| ERT | Taxable early-retirement payment Confirm with employer |
| KMTCHTR on a Pay Stub | “KMTCHTR” is a code or abbreviation that appears on some pay stubs, usually as part of the “other earnings” or “employer contributions / matching” section. It is not a universally |
| Paycheck Deduction PX401 EEPRE Meaning | If you've spotted PX401 EEPRE on your paycheck stub, you're likely dealing with a common payroll code related to retirement savings. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything |
| R4T | Employer 457-plan code associated with TIAA Confirm with employer |
| R4V | Employer 457-plan code associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer |
| R401 | Roth 401(k) contribution |
| RAC | Additional retirement contribution associated with Calvert Confirm with employer |
| RAT | Additional retirement contribution associated with TIAA Confirm with employer |
| RAV | Additional retirement contribution associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer |
| Ret 2 gen ee | What Does RET-2-GEN-EE Mean on a Paycheck? RET-2-GEN-EE on a paycheck refers to an employee's contribution to a general retirement fund or plan. This label is often used by payroll |
| RSC | Supplemental retirement contribution associated with Calvert Confirm with employer |
| RST | Supplemental retirement contribution associated with TIAA Confirm with employer |
| RSV | Supplemental retirement contribution associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer |
| RTC | Base retirement contribution associated with Calvert Confirm with employer |
| RTT | Base retirement contribution associated with TIAA Confirm with employer |
| RTV | Base retirement contribution associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer |
| TRS | Teacher Retirement System or other retirement-system contribution |
Health, insurance and disability deduction codes
Premiums, account contributions, claim reimbursements and employer-paid benefit values can all appear on a pay stub. They are different transactions.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| ADC | Dependent-care spending account contribution Confirm with employer |
| AHC | Health-care spending account contribution Confirm with employer |
| BLF | Basic life insurance Confirm with employer |
| COB | COBRA or continuation-coverage payment Confirm with employer |
| DCR | Dependent-care reimbursement |
| DEN DENTAL | Dental insurance premium |
| DEP | Dental cover for a domestic partner Confirm with employer |
| DPC | Domestic-partner cash payment Confirm with employer |
| DSB | Disability or related insurance benefit Confirm with employer |
| FSA | Flexible Spending Arrangement |
| HCR | Health-care reimbursement |
| HLT RET EE - Meaning On Paystub: | The abbreviation "HLT RET EE" found on a paycheck stub stands for "Health Insurance Retirement Employee." This abbreviation is used to denote contributions made by the employee tow |
| HSA | Health Savings Account |
| HSA FSA | HSA and FSA comparison |
| INS MED | Medical insurance deduction |
| LTC | Long-term care insurance |
| LTD | Long-term disability insurance |
| LTD ER | Employer contribution towards long-term disability |
| LTE | Long-term disability top-up for exempt staff Confirm with employer |
| LTU | Long-term disability top-up for hourly staff Confirm with employer |
| LTX | Taxable long-term disability premium or value Confirm with employer |
| MEP | Medical cover for a domestic partner Confirm with employer |
| peo vli ee post | When a company partners with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to handle HR, payroll, and benefits administration, employees often notice changes in how deductions appear |
| PTX | Partner-benefit tax or reimbursement adjustment Confirm with employer |
| PXUME EE PRE On Paystub | PXUME EE PRE on a paystub likely refers to a pre-tax deduction for a specific insurance or employee benefit. Here's a breakdown of what the components may signify: Breaking Down PX |
| REH | Retiree or early-retirement health benefit Confirm with employer |
| STD | Short-term disability insurance |
| TPS | Third-party sick pay reported as nontaxable Confirm with employer |
| TPT | Third-party sick pay reported as taxable Confirm with employer |
| VIP | Vision cover for a domestic partner Confirm with employer |
| VIS | Vision insurance premium |
| W2HLTH On Paystub | W2HLTH on a paystub likely refers to health or wellness-related benefits or deductions. Its specific meaning depends on your employer's payroll coding system. Here are some common |
Leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes
A leave code can record time, a remaining balance, an actual payment or employment status. Exempt employee status does not mean wages are tax-free.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| ADM | Administrative leave Confirm with employer |
| BRE | Bereavement leave for exempt employees Confirm with employer |
| BRN | Bereavement leave for nonexempt employees Confirm with employer |
| BRVMT | Bereavement pay |
| CRE | Court or subpoena leave for exempt employees Confirm with employer |
| CRT | Court or subpoena leave for nonexempt employees Confirm with employer |
| FML | Family or medical leave, often unpaid |
| FMLA | Family and Medical Leave Act |
| HOL | Holiday pay |
| JDE | Jury-duty leave for exempt employees Confirm with employer |
| JDN | Jury-duty leave for nonexempt employees Confirm with employer |
| JURY | Jury-duty pay or leave |
| LFF | Leave with full pay and full benefits Confirm with employer |
| LNN | Leave with no pay and no benefits Confirm with employer |
| LNP | Leave with no pay and partial benefits Confirm with employer |
| LPP | Leave with partial pay and partial benefits Confirm with employer |
| MLK | Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Confirm with employer |
| NY PFL Your Paycheck: What It Means, How It Works, and Why It’s Deducted | NY PFL stands for New York Paid Family Leave. If you see “NY PFL” on your pay stub, it refers to a payroll deduction that funds the state’s paid family leave insurance programme. T |
| Paid NP Hours - What It Means: | When examining a paycheck stub or understanding employment benefits, you might come across the term "Paid NP Hours." This abbreviation stands for "Paid Non-Productive Hours." In th |
| PTL | Paid parental leave |
| PTO | Paid time off |
| SCE | Sick leave for exempt employees Confirm with employer |
| SCF | Full salary continuation Confirm with employer |
| SCL | Partial salary continuation for exempt staff Confirm with employer |
| SCP | Partial salary continuation Confirm with employer |
| SCS | Extended salary continuation Confirm with employer |
| SICK | Sick leave or sick pay |
| SVF | Full severance payment for exempt staff Confirm with employer |
| SVH | Partial or half severance payment Confirm with employer |
| SVN | Severance for nonexempt employees Confirm with employer |
| VAC | Vacation pay |
| VCE | Vacation for exempt employees Confirm with employer |
| VPT | Vacation payout at termination Confirm with employer |
Garnishments, support orders and wage levies
Identify the legal order before applying a percentage. Different debts can have different limits, priority and release procedures.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| BANKRUPTCY | Bankruptcy-related payroll withholding |
| CHD SU | Child support withholding |
| GARN | Wage garnishment |
| Garn % | Percentage wage garnishment |
| IRS LEVY | IRS levy on wages |
| PHE | Education-related wage attachment Confirm with employer |
| STDN LOAN | Student-loan payment or withholding |
| TXLEVY | Tax levy withholding |
| WA1 | Wage attachment entry Confirm with employer |
| WA2 | Additional wage attachment entry Confirm with employer |
| WA3 | Employer-defined wage attachment code Confirm with employer |
Benefits, reimbursements and voluntary deductions
Stock purchases, education savings, charitable giving, housing and loan payments are not all taxed or calculated in the same way.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| ACR | Accounts receivable or internal recovery Confirm with employer |
| BBC | Benefit-bank cash Confirm with employer |
| C529 | Section 529 education savings contribution |
| CC | Charitable contribution |
| CPL | Computer or equipment loan Confirm with employer |
| CRF | Employer-defined payroll code Confirm with employer |
| ESPP | Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
| GFC | Gift certificate or gift card Confirm with employer |
| GIF | Employer-designated charitable gift Confirm with employer |
| IMP | Imputed income |
| LMG | Land or housing mortgage payment Confirm with employer |
| LN | Loan repayment Confirm with employer |
| MISC | Miscellaneous adjustment or deduction Confirm with employer |
| MTG | Mortgage payment Confirm with employer |
| MTX | Taxable moving-expense reimbursement Confirm with employer |
| MVG | Moving-expense reimbursement label Confirm with employer |
| RNM | Employer housing rent Confirm with employer |
| RNT | Rent payment Confirm with employer |
| RTX | Taxable rent subsidy or housing value Confirm with employer |
| TRN | Transit or commuter benefit |
| TUIREIMB | Tuition reimbursement |
| UD | Union dues |
| UNW | United Way contribution Confirm with employer |
Unfamiliar and employer-specific payroll codes
An employer’s codebook is the reliable starting point for internal labels. Similar letters can mean different things at different workplaces.
| Code or label | Meaning or possible interpretation |
|---|---|
| ADP Payroll Codes | Below are some specific codes, abbreviations or acronyms that might appear on an ADP payroll: For a full glossary of terms check our full payroll abbreviation codes list. A: B: C: |
| HSS | Employer-defined HSS entry Confirm with employer |
| RPTX MSC N - See Money Deduction On Pay Check Stub: | The paycheck stub abbreviation code RPTX MSC N that appears on San Francisco state employee pay-checks refers to pension contribution in the form of a before tax deduction. What Is |
When a code cannot be identified
Ask payroll for the full description, dates, calculation, payer and tax treatment. Keep the statement and relevant election or time record. An employer codebook takes precedence over a general glossary for interpreting its own labels. Use a secure internal channel for documents containing personal information.