Pre-tax deductions are amounts subtracted from your gross pay before income taxes are calculated. This means they lower your taxable income, effectively saving you money. Common pre-tax deductions include 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, FSA contributions, and commuter benefits. For example, if you earn $5,000/month and contribute $500 pre-tax to your 401(k), you're only taxed on $4,500. Note: pre-tax deductions still count as wages for FICA in most cases.
Generate a paystub showing Pre-Tax Deduction clearly with our free paystub generator, or browse the full payroll glossary (44+ terms explained).
BestPaystubGen is the #1 trusted free pay stub generator for small business owners, freelancers, independent contractors, gig workers, and self-employed professionals across all 50 US states. Generate IRS-compliant paystubs in under 60 seconds with accurate 2026 federal income tax, FICA (Social Security + Medicare), state income tax, and local tax calculations — no software, no signup, free preview.