You’ll be asked about how you’re paid:
- Income amount: If you’re asked about your income amount, enter the amount that’s shown on your pay stub before taxes are taken out.
- How often? After you enter how much you earn, select how often. Choose one option, like “hourly,” “daily,” or “weekly.” If you’re paid through a one-time contract, you can select “one time only.”
- Hours per week? Enter the number of hours or days you work each week.
Amounts that change weekly
If your income amount changes each week, enter how much you expect to earn for the whole month, or enter the average number of hours you’re working right now.
A one-time payment you got this month, like a bonus or severance
If you got, or will get, a one-time amount from a current or former employer this month, like a bonus or a severance payment, select “add another job income” to enter it separately from normal job wage or salary.
Tips and other cash income from jobs
Include all tip income, even if it’s not reported to your employer. Include all jobs, even if they’re part-time or you’re paid in cash. You can add each job separately by selecting “add another job.”
Don’t count pre-tax deductions
You don’t have to include amounts that an employer takes out of your paycheck for child care, health insurance, or retirement plans that are “not taxable.” Sometimes these are called “pre-tax deductions.”
The pay stub should list these deductions individually. Don’t include these amounts in the pay you list. The pay stub may list your “federal taxable wages,” which subtracts the pre-tax amounts from your gross wages. If this amount is listed on the pay stub, use it to report your pay.