ChatGPT 
Claude 
Grok 
Perplexity 
Gemini A payroll check is a check an employer issues to pay an employee’s wages for a pay period. It shows the employee’s net pay, which is what’s left after taxes and deductions. It usually comes with a pay stub listing gross pay, each deduction and the pay period. The employee deposits or cashes it like any other check.
Most U.S. workers are now paid by direct deposit. In PayrollOrg’s 2025 Getting Paid in America survey, more than 9 in 10 respondents said so. Payroll checks are still common for new hires, final paychecks, workers without bank accounts and small teams.
What’s on a Payroll Check?
A payroll check has two parts: the check itself and the pay stub attached to it.
| On the check | On the pay stub |
|---|---|
| Employer name and address | Pay period dates |
| Employee (payee) name | Hours worked and pay rate, or salary |
| Check number and date | Gross pay |
| Net pay in numbers and words | Federal, state and local tax withholding |
| Authorized signature | Social Security and Medicare (FICA) |
| Memo (for example, the pay period) | Other deductions (benefits, retirement, garnishments) |
| MICR line: routing number, account number, check number | Net pay and year-to-date totals |
For a labeled sample showing how the check amount matches the stub, see our payroll check example.
Payroll Check vs Personal Check
| Payroll check | Personal check | |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes it | An employer | An individual |
| What it pays | Wages for a pay period | Any personal payment |
| Comes with | A pay stub showing gross pay, deductions and net pay | Usually nothing |
| Drawn on | A business checking account (often a dedicated payroll account) | A personal checking account |
| Record keeping | Part of the employer’s required payroll records | Personal records only |
How Do Payroll Checks Work?
Payroll checks come at the end of the payroll process, not the start. The math happens first, in your payroll system or with your accountant.
- Calculate gross pay from hours worked or salary.
- Withhold taxes and deductions: federal and state income tax, Social Security and Medicare, plus any benefits or garnishments.
- Issue the check for net pay, with a pay stub showing how you got there.
- The employee deposits or cashes it. It clears like any other check, on the bank’s normal timeline.
- Deposit withheld taxes with the IRS and your state on schedule, and keep the payroll records.
Can Payroll Checks Be Handwritten?
Generally, yes. Federal law doesn’t prohibit handwritten (manual) payroll checks, and a handwritten check is still valid if it’s filled out completely and signed. Two practical points:
- Record it in your payroll system. A manual check still has to be counted for tax withholding, tax deposits and year-end forms, and you still need to give the pay stub information your state requires.
- Cashing can be harder for the employee. Being allowed to issue a handwritten check is different from a bank or store being willing to cash it. Some look more closely at handwritten payroll checks, so printed checks with a stub are usually easier to deposit.
How to write a payroll check by hand:
- Work out net pay after all withholdings.
- Write the date and the employee’s full name.
- Write the net pay in numbers and in words, so the two match exactly.
- Add a memo, such as the pay period.
- Sign it, and attach a pay stub with the earnings and deductions.
- Record the check in your payroll records.
How Long Are Payroll Checks Good For?
Payroll checks don’t automatically expire, but they can become stale-dated. Three separate rules apply:
- The bank’s rule. Under the Uniform Commercial Code (§4-404), a bank isn’t obligated to pay a check presented more than six months after its date. It may still pay it in good faith, so a stale-dated check isn’t automatically void.
- The employer’s rule. Many employers print “void after 90 days” or a similar limit on the check itself.
- The state’s rule. Wages that are never cashed are still owed. Each state sets its own dormancy period and reporting rules for unclaimed wages. If an employee never cashes a payroll check, contact them, reissue it if needed, and follow your state’s unclaimed property process instead of simply voiding it.
Do You Have to Give Employees a Pay Stub?
Federal law (the FLSA) requires employers to keep accurate records of hours and wages, but it does not require pay stubs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Pay stub rules come from state law, and most states require some form of written or electronic statement. Check your state labor department for what yours must show.
Payroll Check vs Direct Deposit
| Payroll check | Direct deposit | |
|---|---|---|
| How the employee gets paid | A paper check (or a printable eCheck) they deposit or cash | Money sent straight to their bank account |
| Needs a bank account? | No, the employee can cash it | Yes |
| Timing for the employee | Depends on when they deposit it and their bank’s hold policy | Usually available on payday |
| Employer effort | Print, sign and hand out or mail checks | Set up once, then runs with each payroll |
| Good for | New hires, final paychecks, workers without bank accounts | Most regular pay runs |
Many employers use both: direct deposit for most of the team, and payroll checks when someone needs one.
How to Issue Payroll Checks With Zil Money
Before printing, make sure payroll is calculated (gross pay, withholdings and net pay) in your payroll system. Zil Money issues the checks; it doesn’t calculate payroll or file payroll taxes.
Quick checklist for printing payroll checks:
- Blank check stock
- Correct bank routing and account numbers for the MICR line
- A test print to check alignment
- A pay stub for each check
- A secure way to hand out or mail them
If you pay some or all of your team by check, Zil Money lets you:
- Design payroll checks with a drag-and-drop tool
- Print them on blank check stock using any standard printer
- Create payroll checks with stubs
- Email a payroll check as a one-time printable PDF (eCheck), or have Zil Money print and mail it for you
See Payroll Checks for features. For a step-by-step printing guide, see How to Print Payroll Checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a payroll check?
A payroll check is a check an employer issues to pay an employee’s net wages for a pay period, usually with a pay stub showing gross pay, deductions and net pay.
Do payroll checks expire?
Not automatically. After six months a check is considered stale-dated: under UCC §4-404 a bank doesn’t have to pay it, but it may. Many employers also print a void-after date, such as 90 days. Uncashed wages are still owed and fall under your state’s unclaimed property rules.
Can payroll checks be handwritten?
Generally, yes, if they’re complete and signed. Record the check in your payroll system for taxes and year-end forms, and provide the pay stub details your state requires. Some banks and stores are more cautious about cashing handwritten checks.
What’s the difference between a paycheck and a payroll check?
In everyday use they mean the same thing: a check for an employee’s wages. “Payroll check” is the term employers and banks tend to use.
Do employers have to provide pay stubs?
Federal law doesn’t require them, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Most states do, and the required details vary by state.
Can I print payroll checks at home or in the office?
Yes. With check printing software such as Zil Money, you can print payroll checks with stubs on blank check stock using a standard printer.