How to Verify a Pay Stub (Landlord & Lender Checklist)

Fabricated income documents are a real screening risk. Here's the verification checklist professionals use — useful on either side of the table, because honest applicants pass it effortlessly.

The nine checks

1) Math: gross − deductions = net, to the cent. 2) FICA rates: Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% of taxable wages — wrong rates are the #1 tell. 3) YTD continuity: current period + prior YTD = new YTD. 4) Round numbers everywhere are suspicious; real withholding is rarely tidy. 5) Pay dates should match a real cadence (biweekly = 26 periods). 6) Employer details that exist and answer the phone. 7) Font and alignment inconsistencies betray edits. 8) Bank deposits that match net pay. 9) Cross-document consistency with W-2s and tax returns.

When in doubt

Ask for two months of bank statements or a written employment verification — legitimate applicants can always produce corroboration.