What Goes on a Virginia Pay Stub?
A Virginia pay stub looks like most others across the country, with gross pay at the top and a series of deductions working down to net pay. Federal tax, Social Security, and Medicare follow the same national rules everywhere. The state tax line reflects Virginia's own progressive brackets, which top out at a 5.75% marginal rate, so that line carries real weight on a Virginia stub rather than sitting at zero.
USACalculator built this generator to produce a clean, accurate-looking stub with the option to select your state, since the state dropdown here doesn't yet include Virginia as a dedicated preset. Selecting "Other" and entering figures manually is the closest fit for now, and this page still walks through what an accurate Virginia stub should show.
Using the Generator
Fill in employer details, employee information, pay period dates, and gross pay. The document preview updates as you type, calculating federal tax, Social Security, and Medicare automatically. Because Virginia isn't yet a built-in preset in the state dropdown, choose "Other" and enter your estimated Virginia state withholding manually based on the brackets described below. When you're done, use the print button to save it as a PDF. Want to double-check the underlying math first? Run the same numbers through our Virginia Paycheck Calculator, which does include Virginia's brackets directly.
How the Calculation Works
Federal tax is estimated using a simplified bracket approach, Social Security is calculated at 6.2% of gross pay, and Medicare at 1.45%, matching current federal rates. Since Virginia isn't a built-in state option here, the state tax field needs a manually entered estimate, ideally checked against the Virginia Paycheck Calculator or current Virginia Tax brackets, which top out at 5.75%.
Virginia-Specific Pay Stub Information
Legal Requirement to Issue Stubs
Virginia law requires employers to provide a written statement of gross wages and deductions each pay period. This gives employees a clear record of how net pay was calculated, and it's one of the reasons a generated stub template is a useful reference for understanding what an employer-issued one should include.
What a Complete Stub Should Show
A useful Virginia pay stub includes gross pay, hours worked, federal tax, Virginia state tax, FICA, any pre-tax deductions, net pay, and year-to-date totals. Employees rely on this information for loan applications, rental applications, and their own budgeting.
Pay Frequency Requirements
Virginia wage payment law generally requires employees to be paid at least once every two weeks or twice a month, which sets the typical cadence for how often a written wage statement should arrive.
The State Tax Line
Since Virginia charges a progressive income tax topping out at 5.75%, a correctly built Virginia stub should show a real state withholding amount rather than zero. Because this generator's state dropdown doesn't yet list Virginia as a preset, cross-checking the state tax figure against our Virginia Paycheck Calculator is the most reliable way to fill it in accurately.
Why Virginians Use This Generator
Freelancers transitioning to W-2 employment use it to understand what their new stub should look like. Small business owners use it as a quick reference template before setting up formal payroll software. Employees who lost an old stub use it to reconstruct a reasonable record for their own files, then verify the math against our Virginia Paycheck Calculator.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a generated stub as official proof of income for a mortgage or loan instead of employer-issued documentation.
- Forgetting to update the pay period and YTD fields, which throws off the running totals.
- Leaving the state tax line at zero after selecting "Other," which understates a Virginia worker's real deductions.
- Skipping pre-tax deduction entries, which can make take-home pay look higher than it actually would be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia require employers to provide pay stubs?
Yes. Virginia law requires a written statement of gross wages and deductions each pay period.
What information should a Virginia pay stub include?
Gross pay, hours worked, federal tax, Virginia state tax, FICA, pre-tax deductions, net pay, and year-to-date totals for each.
Do Virginia pay stubs need a state tax line?
Yes, showing a real amount, since Virginia's progressive tax tops out at 5.75%, unlike states with no income tax.
Can I use a generated pay stub for a loan application?
It's useful for personal records, but lenders typically want official documentation from your employer or payroll provider.
Is this pay stub generator legally binding proof of income?
No. It's a calculation and formatting tool, not an official payroll document from an employer.
How often should Virginia pay stubs be issued?
Generally at least once every two weeks or twice a month, with a written wage statement provided at each pay period.
What's the difference between gross and net pay on a stub?
Gross pay is total earnings before deductions. Net pay is what's left, and actually deposited, after tax and other deductions.
Do independent contractors in Virginia need pay stubs?
Typically they receive 1099 payment summaries instead, since no tax withholding applies to contractor payments.
Are digital pay stubs valid in Virginia?
Yes. There's no required physical format for the written wage statement, so digital and printed versions are both acceptable.
What if my employer refuses to give me a pay stub in Virginia?
Since state law requires a written wage statement each pay period, you can raise the issue with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.
Related Calculators
Verify the underlying math with the Virginia Paycheck Calculator, or explore more free tools at USACalculator.
Sources: Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Virginia Tax, IRS Publication 15-T. Figures reviewed for 2026. This tool provides estimates for planning and recordkeeping purposes and does not constitute official payroll documentation.