Loonstroken

Loonstroken are official records that accompany wages paid to employees by an employer for a specific pay period. They itemize the compensation and deductions and serve as a receipt and a financial record for the employee, the employer, and authorities. A loonstrook typically shows gross earnings, deductions and withholdings, and net pay. It may also include hours worked, overtime, bonuses, holiday allowance, other allowances, and year-to-date totals.

Across different countries, the exact items and presentation vary, but common components include gross salary, income tax withholding, social security or pension contributions, health insurance deductions, union dues, and other voluntary or mandatory deductions. The net amount is the actual cash received. Some payslips also show employer contributions, tax codes, and a breakdown by pay period.

In the Netherlands, loonstroken are standard and typically provided monthly. They usually display vacation pay (vakantiegeld), typically about 8% of gross earnings, a breakdown of loonbelasting (income tax) and sociale premies (social security contributions), and year-to-date totals. Payslips can be delivered on paper or through an online payroll portal. Privacy and data protection rules apply to the handling of loonstroken.

Loonstroken function as evidence of income for loan applications, housing, and government benefits, and they help employees verify that pay and deductions are correct. While the basic concept is similar worldwide, each jurisdiction prescribes specific content, format, and delivery rules.