Lesson ProgressPhase 4 of 6
Phase 4Independent Practice
Independent Practice: Pay Stub Studio: Taxes, Net Pay, and Proof
Complete the pay stub workbook using the lesson dataset and design polish requirements
Finish the Pay Stub Studio
You have 15 minutes. Work with focus, but produce your own file. Every student will export a PDF of one pay stub for peer critique tomorrow.
Scenario Expectations
- Each employee must produce a believable pay stub (no blank taxes unless that state truly has zero).
- Include Additional Withholding on the stub even if it is 0 this period.
- Create a memo line that explains the pay period (e.g., "Pay Period: Mar 1–Mar 14, 2025").
- Optional: Add a QR code or placeholder for a digital signature to show professionalism.
Deliverables Checklist
- Taxable income table completed for every employee in the dataset
- Pay stub layout linked to the selector with no broken references
- Professional styling: logo placeholder, section headers, net pay highlight
- Print-ready formatting (fit to 1 page, margins 0.5 in, readable fonts)
- QA checklist completed (FIT, FICA, state tax match manual calculations)
Design Tips
- Use fonts like Source Sans or Calibri for readability.
- Add thin divider lines between sections to guide the eye.
- Keep colors subtle (2 accent colors max) so the stub prints clearly in grayscale.
QA Reminder: Pick two employees and recalc FIT/FICA/State with a calculator. If your workbook disagrees by more than $0.50, fix it before exporting.