Editorial standards

Updated: September 20, 2026

PayStubIQ publishes calculators and educational material for U.S. paycheck planning. Accuracy, transparent assumptions, and useful limitations matter more than search traffic or producing a large number of pages.

Source hierarchy

Federal formulas and tax-year figures use primary government sources, including IRS publications, forms, instructions, and Social Security Administration wage-base materials. We withdrew the unverified state approximation tables on September 20, 2026. State amounts are now entered by the visitor and are not represented as independently calculated or checked.

Each substantive guide links to the primary sources most relevant to its claims. Secondary sources may help identify a topic, but they do not replace an available government source for a tax rule or threshold.

Calculation review

Calculator logic is separated from the interface so deterministic cases can be tested automatically. Tests cover federal withholding, FICA thresholds, paycheck calculations, bonuses, conversions, self-employment estimates, numeric input handling, metadata, dynamic routes, and sitemap behavior. A production build, route smoke checks, responsive checks, and interactive browser checks are run before material releases.

Automated testing reduces software errors but does not make PayStubIQ a payroll processor or professional tax service. We disclose when a result is a standardized estimate rather than an employer-specific calculation.

Authorship and professional review

PayStubIQ is an independently maintained calculator website. Its content and software have not been independently certified by a CPA, attorney, or payroll provider. Automated tests check defined scenarios, not every tax situation. Visitors should use official agency tools or a qualified professional for filing decisions, disputes, multi-state work, equity compensation, or other high-stakes situations.

Corrections and updates

Material federal assumptions are reviewed for each tax year and when agencies publish relevant changes. Corrections are prioritized when they affect calculations, thresholds, source citations, or a visitor's ability to understand a limitation. Date labels reflect a real review rather than an automatic date change.

To report a reproducible concern, email support@paystubiq.com with the page, non-sensitive inputs, expected behavior, and the official source you believe applies. Do not send a complete paystub, Social Security number, bank information, or employer credentials.

Privacy and commercial independence

Calculator inputs are designed to work without account registration or document uploads. Advertising does not determine formulas, conclusions, source selection, or whether a correction is made. See the privacy policy, methodology, and disclaimer for more detail.