Independent guide

UNW on a pay stub: United Way contribution

UNW may identify a voluntary payroll donation to United Way. It is a contribution instruction rather than a payroll tax.

Last updated September 13, 2026

Browse benefits, reimbursements and voluntary deductions.

UNW may identify a voluntary payroll donation to United Way. It is a contribution instruction rather than a payroll tax.

Employer-specific label: this is a possible interpretation. Confirm the full meaning in the codebook for the employer that issued your statement.

How to read this entry

Use the possible interpretation United Way contribution 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 elected $5 donation over 26 deductions produces $130, assuming all deductions occur.

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 authorisation, any year-end giving statement and the effective date of changes or cancellation.

Compare related entries

Read the benefits, reimbursements and voluntary deductions 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 benefits, reimbursements and voluntary deductions provides background on the underlying rules. It does not validate an individual employer’s internal abbreviation.