What Goes on a Montana Pay Stub
Every Montana pay stub starts with the federal lines that look the same nationwide: federal income tax based on your W-4, Social Security at 6.2 percent up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45 percent with no cap. Those three lines come off the top before anything state-specific enters the picture.
The Montana line is where this stub earns its keep. State income tax is withheld according to your Montana MW-4 and the state's 2026 two-bracket schedule, so a worker in Billings sees a different deduction than someone earning the same salary in a no-tax state. Benefit deductions like health premiums or 401(k) contributions appear below the tax lines, and net pay closes out the stub.
Montana Withholding Rules: Forms and Allowances
Montana employers use Form MW-4, the Montana Employee's Withholding Allowance and Exemption Certificate, to figure state withholding. It is separate from your federal W-4, so starting a new job in Missoula usually means filling out both. The state publishes annual withholding tables and an employer guide that payroll software follows to convert your MW-4 allowances into a per-paycheck deduction.
For 2026, Montana taxes income at 4.7 percent up to $47,500 for single filers ($95,000 joint, $71,250 head of household) and 5.65 percent above those thresholds, after House Bill 337 lowered the top rate from 5.9 percent. Because most workers never cross into the higher bracket, a typical Montana stub shows a state line noticeably smaller than the federal tax line above it.
Payday and Final Paycheck Rules in Montana
Montana requires employers to pay wages at least twice a month on regularly scheduled paydays, which is why semimonthly and biweekly schedules dominate across the state. If you work in Bozeman and your employer stretches paydays further apart than that, they are outside what state law allows.
Final paycheck timing is stricter on the employer's side of a firing. A discharged worker must be paid immediately, while someone who quits is owed their final wages by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first. Either way, the final stub should itemize every deduction exactly like a normal one.
Are Itemized Pay Stubs Required in Montana?
Yes. Montana law requires employers to furnish each employee with an itemized statement each pay period showing all deductions made from wages. That makes the pay stub itself a legal document in Montana, not just a courtesy, and it is the fastest way to catch a withholding error before it compounds across a full year of paychecks.
Example: A $65,000 Pay Stub in Billings, Montana
Take a single filer in Billings earning $65,000 a year, paid biweekly. Here is roughly how the annual lines stack up on a Montana pay stub:
| Item | Annual Amount |
| Gross Pay | $65,000.00 |
| Federal Income Tax (approx) | ~$5,672.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $4,030.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $942.50 |
| Montana income tax (4.7%/5.65%, approx) | $2,930.00 |
| Net Annual Pay | ~$51,425.50 |
That works out to about $2,016.36 of net pay landing every two weeks. The Montana line stays modest because most of this salary falls in the 4.7 percent bracket, and the exact figure shifts with MW-4 allowances, pre-tax benefits, and any additional withholding requested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Montana Form MW-4?
It is Montana's state withholding certificate, the Employee's Withholding Allowance and Exemption Certificate. New hires complete it alongside the federal W-4 so the employer knows how much Montana income tax to withhold from each paycheck.
What are Montana's income tax rates for 2026?
Two rates: 4.7 percent on income up to $47,500 for single filers ($95,000 joint), and 5.65 percent above that. House Bill 337 lowered the top rate from 5.9 percent starting in 2026.
How often must Montana employers pay workers?
At least twice a month on regular paydays. Most Montana employers use semimonthly or biweekly schedules to stay comfortably within that rule.
When do I get my final paycheck in Montana?
If you are discharged, your employer must pay you immediately. If you quit, final wages are due by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first.
Does Montana require employers to provide pay stubs?
Yes. Montana requires an itemized statement each pay period showing every deduction taken from your wages.
Does Montana have local income taxes?
No. Montana has no city or county income taxes, so the state line on your stub is the only sub-federal tax deduction besides FICA.
Related Tools
Build your stub with the free Pay Stub Generator, then double-check the take-home figure against the Montana Paycheck Calculator. Comparing offers across state lines? See how the numbers change on a Wyoming pay stub or a North Dakota pay stub.
Sources: Montana Department of Revenue, Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Figures reviewed for 2026. This generator provides an estimate for planning purposes and is not tax advice.