Independent guide

VAC on a pay stub: Vacation pay

VAC usually identifies vacation wages or vacation time. The employer’s policy and applicable state law govern entitlement, accrual and any payout. Paid…

Last updated September 13, 2026

Browse leave, vacation, sick pay and severance codes.

VAC usually identifies vacation wages or vacation time. The employer’s policy and applicable state law govern entitlement, accrual and any payout. Paid vacation is not automatically overtime hours worked under federal rules.

How to read this entry

Use the meaning Vacation pay 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

A week showing 32 worked hours and eight paid vacation hours contains 40 paid hours, but only 32 hours actually worked for the ordinary federal overtime calculation.

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

What to check with payroll

Compare approved dates, the accrual balance and the rate applied to paid vacation.

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.