# Payslip Explained: Deductions in Plain Language

Source: https://maito.app/workflows/answer-benefits-and-payroll-questions

Employees ask Maito what a line on their payslip means and get a plain explanation based on your pay and benefits policies, with HR as the backstop.

Explain payslips, deductions and benefits in plain language.

[People and HR](https://maito.app/workflows/team/people-and-hr) · When you ask · Updated October 19, 2026

Works with

-   Slack
-   Email

## How do you explain a payslip?

To explain a payslip, an employee asks Maito in Slack or by email what a line means. Maito reads your pay and benefits policies, explains what the line is, whether money is taken from pay, and why it appears, in plain words, and sends the person to payroll when the answer needs their real figures.

## How it's done today

People are confused by their payslip and email HR.

## What Maito does

1.  Read the question
2.  Explain using the policy and provider guides

## Example

**Sam** (9:15 AM):

What is this "benefit in kind" line on my payslip? Is something being taken out?

**Maito** (9:16 AM):

No, nothing is taken from your pay for it. It's the taxable value of a benefit you receive. At Northstar that is the company health insurance.

Because insurance is a benefit, tax authorities count part of its value as income. The line makes sure tax is calculated on it, so your tax can be a little higher even though your pay is the same.

**Catch:** if you added a family member to the plan this year, the value goes up, and so does the line. That usually happens in the first payslip after the change.

From the benefits guide and the insurance provider's summary. I can't see your payslip numbers, so I've asked payroll to confirm the exact amount for you.

**Sam** (9:21 AM):

I did add my partner in September.

**Maito** (9:22 AM):

That fits. Payroll will reply here with your exact figure. Ask them for the September change date.

## How to set it up

When you ask Answer benefits and payroll questions

Set up

Nothing to set up. Ask in Slack or by email whenever you need it.

## What it won't do

Maito explains terms and policies. It is not tax or legal advice, and it cannot check whether a payslip is correct.

## Questions

### Can it see my pay?

Only what you share with it. Employees can attach their own payslip, and Maito explains the lines on it.

### Where do the explanations come from?

From your benefits and payroll policies. Maito also explains general terms in plain language.

### Does it fix payslip mistakes?

No. It can say a line looks unexpected and suggest asking payroll.

## More people and hr workflows

-   [Answer policy questions Employees ask about leave, expenses and benefits and get the answer from your handbook. People and HR · When you ask Works with Slack, Email.](https://maito.app/workflows/answer-policy-questions)
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-   [Write a job description Get a clear job post from a few notes and similar past roles. People and HR · When you ask Works with Slack, Email.](https://maito.app/workflows/write-a-job-description)
-   [Screen applications against the role Get a short summary of each applicant against what the role needs. People and HR · When something happens Works with Slack, Email.](https://maito.app/workflows/screen-applications-against-the-role)
-   [Prepare interview kits Interviewers get the CV summary, questions and scorecard before the interview. People and HR · When something happens Works with Google Calendar, Microsoft 365.](https://maito.app/workflows/prepare-interview-kits)
-   [Collect interview feedback Chase interviewers for scorecards and summarize them for the debrief. People and HR · On a schedule Works with Slack, Email.](https://maito.app/workflows/collect-interview-feedback)

[See all workflows](https://maito.app/workflows)

## Put your AI teammate to work.

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