Montana Paystub Generator
Montana cut its top income tax rate to 5.65% for 2026 and now figures withholding much like the federal system, starting from the federal standard deduction instead of old state allowances. State law also says every paycheck must come with an itemized statement of deductions, even when nothing is deducted. This Montana paystub generator applies the new tables from Form MW-4 so the state line, Social Security, Medicare and net pay reconcile to the cent.
Create Your Montana Paystub
Free preview · Montana tax and FICA itemized line by line · Instant PDF
Why Big Sky Businesses Choose Online Paystub
Montana rewrote its wage withholding for 2026. Allowances and the old Montana standard deduction are gone from the calculation; the tables now start from the federal standard deduction for the employee's filing status, then apply 4.7% up to a bracket edge and 5.65% above it. Many stubs still in circulation were built on the old method and no longer match.
As a Montana pay stub maker, Online Paystub uses the 2026 tables for weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly pay. Enter the hours and rate, preview for free and download the PDF when each deduction checks out.
See a Montana Earnings Statement Built Step by Step
Follow the general walkthrough and select Montana as the work state so the MW-4 withholding line is added automatically.
HB 337 and the Two Montana Tax Brackets for 2026
House Bill 337 from the 2025 session lowered the top rate from 5.9% to 5.65% starting January 1, 2026 and widened the 4.7% bracket. A further cut to 5.4% is already scheduled for 2027.
| Filing status | 4.7% on taxable income up to | 5.65% on taxable income over |
|---|---|---|
| Single or married filing separately | $47,500 | $47,500 |
| Married filing jointly or surviving spouse | $95,000 | $95,000 |
| Head of household | $71,250 | $71,250 |
Long-term capital gains stay at 3% and 4.1% and the state earned income tax credit rises to 20% of the federal credit. Neither changes a regular wage check, but both show up at filing time.
Form MW-4 and the Federal-Style Withholding Tables
Montana does not accept the federal W-4 for state withholding. Employees complete Form MW-4 and the employer applies the 2026 tables in the Employer and Information Agent Guide. The annual version of those tables:
| MW-4 filing status | 0% up to | 4.7% up to | 5.65% above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, married filing separately or both spouses working | $16,100 | $63,600 | $63,600 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 | $127,200 | $127,200 |
| Head of household | $24,150 | $95,400 | $95,400 |
- No MW-4 on file: the employer withholds as if the employee checked single.
- Bonuses and commissions: when paid separately they can be withheld at a flat 5% or combined with regular wages.
- Extra withholding: employees may add a fixed amount per check on the MW-4.
- Rounding: the result is rounded to a whole dollar, so the state line normally ends in .00.
The Department of Revenue's 2026 withholding update explains why employees who have not refreshed their MW-4 may be under-withheld.
Why MCA 39-3-101 Makes Itemization Mandatory
Montana is one of the states with a clear statute on pay statements. MCA 39-3-101 says every employer, when paying wages, must give the employee an itemized statement listing:
- State income tax withheld
- Federal income tax withheld
- Social Security
- Any other deduction
- The amount of each deduction
If nothing is deducted, the employer still has to hand over a statement saying so. A lump net figure on a deposit notice does not meet the rule. A proper Montana payroll stub breaks out every deduction by name and amount on each payday, which is exactly the layout this tool produces.
Bozeman Outfitter Example: Reading Every Line
Below is a real preview from the Montana paystub generator for a biweekly hourly employee. The Montana tax line and net pay are highlighted.
Scenario: hourly employee of Big Sky Outfitters LLC, 210 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715. Paid biweekly at $24.00 an hour for 80 hours, single on the federal W-4 and single on the MW-4. Pay period Sep 14 to Sep 27, 2026, pay date Sep 29, 2026. This is the 20th check of the year.
| Line | Current | Year to date |
|---|---|---|
| Regular pay (80 hours at $24.00) | $1,920.00 | $38,400.00 |
| Federal income tax | $146.55 | $2,931.00 |
| Montana state tax | $61.00 | $1,220.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $27.84 | $556.80 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $119.04 | $2,380.80 |
| Net pay | $1,565.57 | $31,311.40 |
The state amount comes from the single table. Annualized pay is $49,920 ($1,920 times 26). Subtracting the $16,100 zero bracket leaves $33,820, all inside the 4.7% band, which is $1,589.54 a year. Divided by 26 that is $61.14, rounded to $61.00. Twenty checks at $61 produce the $1,220.00 year-to-date total. Bozeman adds no city tax, so this Montana stub carries four deductions in all.
$10.85 With No Tip Credit: Montana Wage Floors
| Rule | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $10.85 per hour, up from $10.55 |
| Tipped employees | $10.85 cash wage; no tip credit, training wage or meal credit |
| Small business exception | $4.00 for a business outside the FLSA with gross sales of $110,000 or less |
| Overtime | 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours (MCA 39-3-405) |
Because Montana allows no tip credit, a server's stub shows the full hourly wage before any tips are added. The small business exception does not apply to an employee who is individually covered by federal law. The Department of Labor and Industry lists the current rate on its state minimum wage page.
Ten Business Days, Fifteen Days and Final Wages
- Regular pay: wages must be paid within 10 business days after they are due. With no set schedule, the pay period is presumed semimonthly (MCA 39-3-204).
- Quitting: final wages are due on the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first (MCA 39-3-205).
- Fired or laid off: final wages are due immediately unless a written policy extends the deadline to the next payday or 15 days, whichever is sooner.
- Unused leave: private employers are not required to pay out unused sick leave, PTO or severance.
No City Income Tax Anywhere in Montana
Montana towns cannot add a wage tax. MCA 7-1-112 denies self-governing local governments the power to tax income unless the law specifically delegates it. A worker in Billings, Missoula or Bozeman gets the same state line as one in a small ranch town. Unemployment insurance is funded by employer contributions on wages up to $47,300 in 2026, so it is not an employee line on a Montana payroll stub either.
From Timesheet to PDF With a Montana Pay Stub Maker
- Enter the employer's Montana address and the employee's filing status.
- Add hours, rate and pay frequency. Include any extra MW-4 withholding the employee requested.
- Preview the Montana pay stub, confirm each deduction is itemized and download the PDF.
Most people finish a check in a few minutes with this Montana pay stub maker. Running payroll in several states? The same process works on our Missouri paystub generator, the Minnesota pay stub generator and the Mississippi paystub generator.
Keep Every Montana Stub Tied to Real Wages
Every Montana stub should document wages that were actually earned and paid. Use them for genuine Montana payroll, to replace a lost Montana payroll stub or to back up income with matching bank deposits and W-2 forms. Falsifying income documents is fraud under Montana and federal law.
Montana Workers and Their Neighbors
Montana withholds state tax with Form MW-4 and has a reciprocal agreement with North Dakota. Energy and agriculture jobs often cross the borders.
- Sidney and Glendive residents who work in the Bakken can claim reciprocity and pay only Montana tax. North Dakota residents working in Montana use the North Dakota paystub generator.
- Billings area crews with jobs near Sheridan or Gillette have no state income tax withheld on that work. Use the Wyoming paystub generator.
- Missoula employers with staff in north Idaho need Idaho's flat-rate withholding for those wages, in the Idaho paystub generator.
Common Montana Paycheck Questions
What are the Montana income tax rates for 2026?
4.7% on taxable income up to $47,500 for single filers ($95,000 joint, $71,250 head of household) and 5.65% above that. The top rate was 5.9% in 2025.
Does Montana require an itemized pay stub?
Yes. MCA 39-3-101 requires an itemized statement of state and federal income tax, Social Security and every other deduction with each payment. A statement is required even when nothing is deducted.
What happens if I did not give my employer a Form MW-4?
Your employer withholds Montana tax as if you are single. The federal W-4 is not accepted for Montana withholding.
Is there a tip credit in Montana?
No. Tipped employees must be paid the full $10.85 minimum wage in 2026 before tips.
Do Montana cities charge an income tax?
No. State law bars local governments from taxing income, so a Montana pay stub never has a city tax line.
How are bonuses taxed on a Montana paycheck?
Supplemental wages paid separately can be withheld at a flat 5% or added to regular wages and run through the tables.
How much does the Montana paystub generator cost?
The Montana paystub generator costs $4.99 for one stub, no subscription. Preview is free, so you can correct any line before you pay.