Paycheck

Gross Pay

Amount of money earned before deductions.

W-2

The form that an employer must send to the employee and the IRS at the end of the year. The form reports an employee's annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from his or her paycheck.

Net Pay

Amount of money you take home after deductions.

Deductions

Money withheld by your employer.

W-4

A form completed by a new employee. The W-4 form tells the employer the correct amount of tax to withhold from an employee's paycheck.