Gross Pay Versus Net Pay

Gross Pay Versus Net Pay – A Great Conversation to have when you receive your 1st Paycheck

GROSS PAY is the amount an employee earns on a each paycheck BEFORE TAXES.
NET PAY, also referred to as “take home pay”, is the amount the employee receives after taxes & deductions.

Per tax law, the following items must be “withheld” (taken out) from gross pay:  Social Security, Medicare, Income taxes (fed& state) & state disability. Per employee, add’l deductions may apply such as retirement, garnishments or additional with-holdings.

For TEACHERS, they can customize the program to fit their own personal style with lesson plans and activities for the classroom.

Understanding taxes makes teaching taxes as easy as ABC:

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For STUDENTS, this tool makes learning about federal taxes easy, relevant and fun. It features 38 lessons that help students understand the American tax system. It’s available 24/7.

Example

Marisol Martinez earns $2,000/month as an executive assistant. In addition to federal payroll taxes (Social Security & Medicare) and personal income tax withholding, her employer withholds $50 for her retirement
account.  Marisol’s net pay is calculated as follows:

Gross pay =   $2,000.00
Social Security tax (6.2 percent of gross pay)  – $124.00
Medicare tax (1.45 percent of gross pay)  – $29.00
Income tax (per Form W-4) – $220.00
Retirement  – $50.00
Net pay = 2000 -124 -29 -220 -50 = $1,577.00

Marisol earns $2,000 and “takes home” $1,577. Her employer will send $373 ($124 + $29 +$220) to federal government and $50 to the retirement fund.