What Goes on a Texas Pay Stub
A Texas pay stub shows only federal tax lines: federal income tax based on the W-4, Social Security at 6.2 percent up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45 percent. The state section is empty because Texas does not tax wage income, a fact written into the state constitution.
What fills a Texas stub below the taxes are benefit deductions: health premiums, dental and vision, 401(k) or other retirement contributions. A nurse in Houston and a developer in Austin see the same tax structure, and the absence of a state line is usually the first thing newcomers from high-tax states notice when they compare stubs.
Texas Withholding Rules: Forms and Allowances
There is no Texas withholding form because there is no wage tax to withhold. New hires complete the federal W-4 only, and payroll departments skip the state calculation entirely. Nothing about 2026 changes that arrangement.
Texas funds government through sales and property taxes instead, which never appear on a pay stub. The practical result is one less form at hire, one less line on every stub, and one less reconciliation at tax time.
Payday and Final Paycheck Rules in Texas
The Texas Payday Law sets pay frequency by worker type. Exempt employees must be paid at least once a month, while non-exempt employees must be paid at least twice a month with no more than 16 days between paydays. Most Texas employers land on biweekly or semimonthly to stay clear of that limit.
Final paychecks move on different clocks depending on how the job ended. A discharged worker must be paid within 6 days, while someone who quits is owed final wages by the next regular payday. The final statement must still itemize every deduction.
Are Itemized Pay Stubs Required in Texas?
Yes. The Texas Payday Law requires employers to furnish a written statement of earnings and deductions with each payday, in paper or printable form. That written record is the worker's proof of exactly what was withheld, and it is worth checking against a generated stub whenever a new job's first paycheck looks off.
Example: A $60,000 Pay Stub in Houston, Texas
Take a single filer in Houston earning $60,000 a year, paid biweekly. The Texas Payday Law keeps the stub simple and the net pay line strong:
| Item | Annual Amount |
| Gross Pay | $60,000.00 |
| Federal Income Tax (approx) | ~$5,030.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| Texas income tax | $0.00 |
| Net Annual Pay | ~$50,380.00 |
That is about $1,937.69 of net pay every two weeks. Texas employers must provide that breakdown in writing each payday, so comparing this generated stub against the employer's statement is the fastest way to catch a withholding mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas has no state income tax, and the state constitution effectively bars one without voter approval. There is no state withholding on wages.
How often must Texas employers pay workers?
Exempt employees must be paid at least monthly; non-exempt employees at least twice a month, with no more than 16 days between paydays.
When is my final paycheck due in Texas?
Within 6 days of discharge if you are fired, or by the next regular payday if you quit.
Are pay stubs required in Texas?
Yes. The Texas Payday Law requires employers to provide a written statement of earnings and deductions each payday, in paper or printable form.
Can Texas cities add their own income tax?
No. Texas law does not allow cities or counties to levy a local income tax, so the stub looks the same in Houston, Dallas, El Paso, or a small town.
Related Tools
Create your stub with the free Pay Stub Generator and verify it against the Texas Paycheck Calculator. Curious what a state tax line looks like? Compare an Oklahoma pay stub or a New Mexico pay stub.
Sources: Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Payday Law, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Figures reviewed for 2026. This generator provides an estimate for planning purposes and is not tax advice.