Independent guide

PTO on a pay stub: Paid time off

PTO is paid time off. Employers may use one combined bank or separate vacation, personal and sick-time banks. A statement can show PTO earned, PTO taken, a…

Last updated September 13, 2026

Browse leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes.

PTO is paid time off. Employers may use one combined bank or separate vacation, personal and sick-time banks. A statement can show PTO earned, PTO taken, a remaining balance and the wages paid for time off.

How to read this entry

Use the meaning Paid time off alongside the column heading. An earnings amount, an employee deduction and an employer-cost memo can have different effects even when their labels look similar.

Example on a pay statement

An opening balance of 32 hours plus four accrued hours minus eight used hours leaves 28 hours. The eight paid hours may also appear in earnings and should not be counted twice.

Examples illustrate the checking method. They are not a personal tax calculation or a promise of a particular benefit.

What to check with payroll

Check the units and distinguish the leave balance from the current-period payment.

Compare related entries

Read the leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes guide to compare the entries in this part of your statement. Use the full pay stub code directory when a second abbreviation is unfamiliar.

Reference and scope

Official guidance on leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes provides background on the underlying rules. The actual plan, tax year, jurisdiction and payroll record determine how the rules apply.