# Pay stub in Spanish: what each line is called, and how to translate one

A pay stub in Spanish is a talón de pago in the US, a recibo de nómina in Mexico and a nómina in Spain. LoreAI translates a stub in either direction from a PDF or photo and returns an editable Word file with the earnings and deductions table in place. For USCIS, a payslip in Spanish needs a full English translation and the translator's certification[1].

## What is a pay stub called in Spanish?

The word changes with the country, and the person reading your document will expect their own term.

- **United States**: Talón de pago, talón de cheque, or comprobante de pago
- **Mexico**: Recibo de nómina. Employers issue it as an electronic invoice, the CFDI de nómina
- **Spain**: Nómina, or recibo de salarios on older forms
- **Central and South America**: Colilla de pago, desprendible de nómina or boleta de pago, depending on the country
- **Proof of income**: Comprobante de ingresos, the general term for a stub, an employer letter or a tax return

## Every line of a US pay stub in Spanish

This glossary follows the order of a typical US stub, from the header to the year-to-date totals. Use it to read a stub, or to check a translation before you send it to family or a landlord abroad.

*US pay stub terms, English to Spanish*

| On the stub | In Spanish |
| --- | --- |
| Pay period, pay date | Periodo de pago, fecha de pago |
| Employee ID | Número de empleado |
| Gross pay | Salario bruto, ingresos brutos |
| Net pay, take-home pay | Salario neto, pago neto |
| Regular hours, overtime | Horas regulares, horas extra |
| Hourly rate | Tarifa por hora |
| Federal income tax withheld | Impuesto federal sobre la renta retenido |
| State income tax | Impuesto estatal sobre la renta |
| Social Security, Medicare (FICA) | Seguro Social, Medicare (FICA) |
| Pre-tax deductions: 401(k), health insurance | Deducciones antes de impuestos: plan 401(k), seguro médico |
| Year to date (YTD) | Acumulado del año |
| Direct deposit | Depósito directo |

Keep the amounts, dates and the employer's name exactly as printed. A US stub writes 1,250.75, and readers in Mexico expect the same separators, while readers in Spain write 1.250,75. Name the currency once, USD, so nobody has to guess.

## A Spanish payslip in English: the lines that trip people up

Going the other way, a Mexican recibo de nómina or a Spanish nómina has items with no single US equivalent. These are the usual English renderings a translator would use.

*Mexican and Spanish payslip terms, Spanish to English*

| On the payslip | In English |
| --- | --- |
| Percepciones, devengos | Earnings |
| Deducciones | Deductions |
| Sueldo base, salario diario | Base salary, daily wage |
| Aguinaldo | Year-end bonus (aguinaldo) |
| Prima vacacional | Vacation bonus |
| ISR retenido, IRPF | Income tax withheld (ISR in Mexico, IRPF in Spain) |
| Cuota IMSS, Seguridad Social | Social security contribution (IMSS in Mexico) |
| INFONAVIT | Housing fund loan repayment (INFONAVIT) |
| Neto a pagar, líquido a percibir | Net pay |
| RFC, CURP, NSS | Tax ID, population registry code and social security number, copied as written |

## Pay stubs as proof of income for USCIS

On the I-864 affidavit of support, every sponsor sends the most recent federal tax return. Pay stubs from the most recent six months and a letter from the employer are optional extras that you may add if they help you qualify[2].

A payslip from a job in Mexico or Spain is in Spanish, so it goes in with a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate, along with a certification that they are competent to translate[1]. The rule names no agency. The [USCIS translation guide](https://www.loreai.org/uscis-translation) covers who may sign.

## How to translate a pay stub with LoreAI

1. **Get the stub as a PDF or a photo.** A PDF from the payroll portal, a scan or a phone photo of a paper stub all work.
2. **Upload it and choose the target language.** English for a recibo de nómina, Spanish for a US stub. LoreAI detects the source language.
3. **Download the Word file.** Earnings and deductions come back as a real Word table, with each amount in its column and the employer's header in place.
4. **Add a signed statement if the receiver needs one.** For USCIS, the person who checks the translation signs it. The [certificate of translation template](https://www.loreai.org/certificate-of-translation-template) has the wording.

Six months of stubs is a short stack. Free covers 3 pages, Basic up to 30 pages per document and Pro up to 100 pages.

## Questions people ask

### How do you say pay stub in Spanish?

Talón de pago is the usual US term. In Mexico it is recibo de nómina, and in Spain nómina.

### What is recibo de nómina in English?

Payslip or pay stub. Percepciones are the earnings and deducciones the deductions.

### How do you say proof of income in Spanish?

Comprobante de ingresos. It covers pay stubs, an employer letter and a tax return, the declaración de impuestos.

### Does USCIS accept pay stubs in Spanish?

Only with a full English translation and the translator's signed certification of accuracy and competence[1].

### Is LoreAI a certified translation service?

No. LoreAI returns an editable Word translation. A person fluent in both languages reviews it and signs the certification when one is needed.

## Sources

1. [8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), Translations, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-103/subpart-A/section-103.2), accessed November 9, 2026
2. [USCIS: I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, filing checklist](https://www.uscis.gov/i-864), accessed November 9, 2026

By Matt Mountain · Updated November 9, 2026