How to Redact Pay Stubs

Pay stubs are one of the most commonly requested documents for income verification. Landlords, lenders, and employers routinely ask for them. But pay stubs contain sensitive information you shouldn't share unnecessarily.

Here's exactly what to redact—and what to leave visible—based on your situation.

What's on a Pay Stub

A typical pay stub includes:

• Employee information: Name, address, SSN (full or partial)
• Employer information: Company name, address, EIN
• Pay details: Gross pay, net pay, pay period, pay date
• Deductions: Taxes, insurance, 401k, garnishments
• YTD totals: Year-to-date earnings and deductions
• Direct deposit info: Bank name, account number (often partial)

What to Redact vs. Keep

Information	Recommendation	Why
Full SSN	REDACT	Major identity theft risk
Bank account number	REDACT	Financial fraud risk
Your home address	Optional	Keep for rentals, redact for others
Your name	KEEP	Proves it's your document
Employer name	KEEP	Verifies employment
Gross/Net pay	KEEP	This is what they need
Pay date/period	KEEP	Confirms recency
YTD earnings	KEEP	Shows annual income trajectory
Deduction details	Optional	May reveal health conditions, garnishments
Employer EIN	Optional	Usually not needed

By Use Case

Pay Stubs for Apartment Applications

Landlords typically want to see that you earn 2.5-3x the monthly rent. They need:

• Your name (matching your application)
• Employer name
• Gross or net pay per period
• Pay frequency (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
• Recent pay dates (usually last 2-3 stubs)

Redact your full SSN (last 4 is fine), bank account, and detailed deduction breakdown.

Pay Stubs for Mortgage/Loans

Lenders need comprehensive income verification. For pre-approval, redacted stubs often work. For final underwriting, they may require unredacted documents—ask your loan officer.

Pay Stubs for New Employer

If a new employer asks for pay stubs to verify your previous salary:

• Keep employer name and pay amounts
• Redact SSN, bank info, and detailed deductions
• Note: Many states now prohibit asking for salary history—check local laws

Pay Stubs for Government Benefits

Government agencies typically require unredacted documents for benefit calculations. Don't redact when submitting to official programs.

Deductions: The Hidden Privacy Risk

Pay stub deductions can reveal sensitive information:

• Health insurance premiums: Family status, coverage level
• HSA contributions: Health concerns requiring savings
• Wage garnishments: Legal judgments, child support, tax liens
• Union dues: Union membership
• Charitable deductions: Religious or political affiliations

For income verification, the deduction details usually aren't needed. Consider redacting the itemized deduction section and leaving only the total deductions visible.

How to Redact Properly

Digital Pay Stubs (PDF)

1. Upload to SafeRedact or another redaction tool
2. AI will detect SSN, account numbers automatically
3. Add manual redactions for deduction details if desired
4. Apply and download

Paper Pay Stubs

1. Scan or photograph the pay stub
2. Redact digitally (more reliable than marker)
3. Export the redacted version

Screenshots from Payroll Systems

If you access pay stubs through ADP, Workday, Gusto, or similar:

1. Export as PDF if possible (better quality)
2. Or take a screenshot
3. Redact the same way as any document

Common Questions

Will landlords accept redacted pay stubs?

Most will, especially if the key information (name, employer, income) is visible. Some large property management companies may have stricter requirements—ask before submitting.

Can I redact my hourly rate?

If you're paid hourly, the rate and hours worked help verify the math. Redacting these may raise questions about legitimacy. It's usually better to leave them visible.

What about multiple jobs?

If you have multiple income sources, you may need to provide stubs from each. Apply the same redaction principles to all of them.