Free Salary Slip Format — Payslip Template & Guide

A salary slip (payslip) is the monthly document an employer gives every employee that shows how their pay was calculated — gross earnings, statutory and other deductions, and the final net amount credited. It is proof of employment and income, used for loans, visas, rent agreements, ITR filing and new-job background checks, so getting the format right matters. A correct Indian payslip is not just a single "salary" figure: it breaks pay into components like Basic, HRA, DA and allowances, then itemises deductions such as Provident Fund (PF), ESI, Professional Tax (PT) and TDS, and arrives at a clearly stated net pay in both figures and words. This guide explains exactly what a compliant salary slip should contain and how to build one. With KukBook you can create, print and share salary slips free — the payroll module computes Basic, HRA, PF (employee 12% of PF wages, i.e. Basic + DA, up to the ₹15,000 monthly ceiling), ESI, Professional Tax and TDS, and generates a payslip per employee. KukBook also handles your GST paperwork: create, print and share invoices and, for GST documents, prepare GSTR-1/3B returns, e-invoices (IRN) and e-way bills.

What this salary slip / payslip includes

Tips

  • Keep Basic at a sensible share of CTC (commonly 40–50%). Setting it artificially low to reduce PF/gratuity can create compliance issues and EPFO scrutiny.
  • Show employer PF/ESI contributions on the slip for information but never deduct them from the employee — they are a cost to the company, not a worker deduction.
  • Check ESI eligibility against the ₹21,000 monthly gross threshold and apply PF at 12% of PF wages capped at ₹15,000 — getting these limits wrong is the most common payslip error.
  • Print net pay in both figures and words, and issue a slip every month even for unchanged salaries, so employees have a continuous record for loans and visas.
  • Share payslips as password-protected PDFs or via a secure portal rather than open email attachments, since they contain PAN, bank and salary data.

Frequently asked questions

Is a salary slip legally mandatory in India?

There is no single national "payslip law," but several state Shops & Establishments Acts and wage rules require employers to issue wage/pay records, and PF and ESI compliance effectively make a monthly slip standard practice. Most employers issue one every month as proof of pay and statutory deductions.

What is the difference between gross salary and net (take-home) pay?

Gross salary is the total of all earnings — Basic, HRA, DA and allowances — before deductions. Net pay (take-home) is what is left after subtracting deductions like PF, ESI, Professional Tax and TDS. The slip should show both so employees can see exactly how take-home was derived.

Which deductions appear on an Indian salary slip?

The common ones are EPF (employee 12% of PF wages, Basic + DA, up to the ₹15,000 ceiling), ESI (0.75% of gross when monthly gross is ₹21,000 or less), state Professional Tax on a slab basis, and income-tax TDS. Voluntary items like loan EMIs or insurance may also appear. The employer's matching PF/ESI share is shown for information but not deducted from the employee.

Can I create and share salary slips for free in KukBook?

Yes. KukBook's payroll module computes Basic, HRA, PF, ESI, Professional Tax and TDS and lets you create, print and share a payslip per employee at no cost. For your GST paperwork, KukBook also prepares GSTR-1/3B return data and e-invoice (IRN) data, and records e-way bill numbers, from the same platform.

Create, print and share salary slips free with KukBook — PF, ESI, PT and TDS handled for you. Start free.