What Is FICA on My Paystub?
Use the free tool — Paystub Audit
What "FICA" Means on Your Paystub
FICA is one of several short labels that show up on a paystub next to your gross pay. In the example used to describe this tool, the same stub also lists MED, SUTA, a uniform deduction, and something called ADV. This material does not spell out what FICA stands for or break down how it's calculated — it treats it, like the other lines, as something a worker sees on a real paystub and needs explained.
Why the Line Looks Confusing
The example paystub used here shows Gross $1,240 and Net $862. FICA is one of the deductions that sits between those two numbers, along with MED, SUTA, the uniform deduction, and ADV. Seeing several abbreviations at once — some for taxes, some for benefits, some for company deductions — is exactly the kind of thing that makes a first paystub hard to read.
- FICA
- MED
- SUTA
- a uniform deduction
- ADV
What Paystub Audit Checks
You paste the lines from your own paystub — earnings, hours, taxes, deductions, year-to-date — along with your state and pay period. For each line, including FICA, the tool explains what it is, whether it looks normal for your pay, and roughly what it should be. Anything unusual is flagged.
If FICA, or another line, is flagged, you get the exact wording to ask payroll, and what to do next if it turns out to be a real error.
What This Page Can't Tell You
Paystub Audit explains common paystub lines and checks the arithmetic you type. It is not tax or legal advice. It cannot see your W-4, your benefits elections, or your employer's specific policies, so the "expected" amount for FICA is an approximation, not a guarantee. Confirm anything important with payroll.
The first audit is free, as stated in the tool's description. The material does not say how long pasted data is kept or where it goes, so that isn't something we can confirm here.
If FICA Looks Wrong
Paystub Audit can point out a FICA line that looks off and suggest a question for payroll, but it cannot resolve wage disputes. For actual wage violations, contact the DOL Wage and Hour Division, which is free.
What to Do Next
Paste the lines from your own paystub — earnings, hours, taxes, deductions, year-to-date — plus your state and pay period, into the free tool. It reads your own numbers, explains each one including FICA, flags the two or three lines worth a question, and gives you the exact wording to ask payroll before your next check.
Paystub Audit is an informational tool based on public IRS and Department of Labor guidance. Expected amounts are approximations; actual withholding depends on your W-4 and employer tables. It is not tax, legal or financial advice and is not affiliated with any employer, payroll provider or agency.