As you peruse your paycheck stubs, you may notice various codes and deductions related to your earnings and benefits. One such deduction could be GTL (Group Term Life Insurance). When seen listed anywhere on a pay stub, GTL indicates life insurance coverage provided as part of an employer benefits package.
GTL life insurance policies are offered to employees at minimal or no cost by employers. Your premium may be fully or partially paid by them; your employer could cover part or all of it themselves.
While a GTL policy provides essential financial protection for you and your family, it could also have an effect on your taxable income; in certain instances, if coverage exceeds IRS limits, it could be considered taxable income and appear as GTL on pay stub.
As part of this guide, we’ll explain exactly how pay stub GTL is calculated and appears to help you gain a complete understanding of its implications and impact on taxable income.
What is group term life insurance?
What is GTL? -> GTL acronym- Group Term Life insurance is one of the most frequently offered life insurance benefits to employees by employers.
GTL covers an employee for an established timeframe; often while working for that specific company – providing financial protection if an employee passes away during this coverage period; should this occur, GTL pays out a death benefit directly to his/her beneficiaries chosen by that employee.
Employers know that providing Group-Term Life (GTL) coverage to employees is part of maintaining employee welfare; just like paid time off, bonuses, or health insurance, GTL is part of an employee benefits package designed to protect workers and their families. Many companies include this coverage GTL on paycheck: this simply refers to the employer-funded cost associated with providing GTL policies.
Pay stub GTL works on a “group” basis, which covers all eligible employees within one plan. Most employers offer coverage worth one or two times an employee’s annual salary; the exact figure can vary by organization. Some employees also choose to purchase additional coverage at their own cost for further protection.
There are several GTL benefits; however, as this type of term life insurance coverage is temporary, its value only lasts during employment. Once you leave a job or switch employers, some plans allow you to convert them to individual coverage, though the premiums may increase accordingly.
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Is GTL Considered Taxable Income?
Under U.S. tax law, GTL (Group Term Life Insurance) provided by your employer may constitute taxable income depending on its amount. The IRS has specific rules as to when GTL becomes taxable income.
GTL Coverage Up to $50,000 Is Not Taxable
As per the GTL on W2 that refers, employees receiving employer-provided group-term life insurance with an employer contribution of $50,000 or less qualify for tax-free treatment; that means no federal income tax, Social Security tax or Medicare tax is payable on this portion.
Coverage Exceeding $50,000 Is Taxable
If your employer provides more than $50,000 of life insurance coverage for you and/or your dependents, the IRS requires the value of this additional coverage to be included as income, known as imputed income.
Though not in cash form, the IRS considers your benefit to be compensation and thus must tax it accordingly.
How the IRS Calculates Taxable Amount
The IRS relies on an official age-based cost table (Uniform Premium Table I) to ascertain the value of your insurance coverage and to calculate its taxable GTL amount. Your GTL amount depends on several factors, including:
- Your Age Group and Coverage Amount
- How much exceeds the $50,000 tax-free limit
- As your age increases, so too will the IRS premium per $1,000 of coverage.
Does GTL Affect My Paycheck?
- Yes, but indirectly.
- The GTL amount shown on your pay stub should not be seen as a deduction from your paycheck.
Your wages will then have slightly increased federal, state, Social Security and Medicare tax withholdings.
Your take-home pay may decrease slightly due to increased taxes incurred as a result of GTL deductions, rather than as a direct result of GTL itself.
| GTL Coverage Amount | Taxable? | IRS Rule |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $50,000 | No | Fully tax-exempt |
| Above $50,000 | Yes | Taxable as “imputed income.” |
Why GTL Appears on Your Pay Stub
Group Term Life on paycheck because your employer provides Group Term Life Insurance coverage, and the IRS requires any taxable portion to be reported as income. Even though GTL is provided through employer payments, certain aspects may still be tax-payable; this must be listed clearly on your pay stub for proper accounting purposes.
Once coverage exceeds this amount, however, its value becomes taxable and becomes part of your pay stub as the “imputed cost”. Rather than being deducted directly from your pay stub as with deductions taken out from wages paid, employers add it on so they can accurately calculate payroll taxes.
By including GTL on your pay stub, your employer ensures transparency regarding how benefits affect both income and tax withholding. It provides clarity for you:
- How much GTL coverage do I currently have?
- Check if any portion of your coverage is taxable
- How it affects your gross and taxable wages
GTL on paycheck to maintain accurate payroll records and to comply with IRS rules regarding employer-provided life insurance benefits.
How to Read GTL On Paycheck Stub
Understanding GTL on pay stub may seem complex at first, but once you know where to look, it becomes much simpler.
GTL meaning in payroll, represents the taxable value of life insurance coverage provided by your employer.
First and foremost, it is essential that you understand that GTL does not constitute a deduction taken out of your paycheck; rather, it represents the imputed cost of life insurance provided by your employer that exceeds $50,000, and that must be reported as income by them to the IRS.
Here’s the explanation – what is GTL on a pay stub?:
- GTL or Group Term Life: This line indicates the taxable value of coverage provided to you.
- Taxable Wages: Your GTL amount may be added to your taxable wages in order to pay federal, state, and Social Security taxes.
- Coverage Amount: Some employers provide life insurance at 1x or 2x your annual salary.
- No Cash Impact: Even though your pay stub shows it, this deduction has no impact on your net pay and only influences how taxes are calculated.
If a GTL amount appears for the first time, this generally indicates that your employer has calculated and added it to your payroll records.
By looking over this section of your pay stub, you can help you understand how much life insurance coverage you’re receiving and how the IRS views taxable portions of this benefit.
Conclusion
GTL on paystubs refers to the value of your employer-provided life insurance and most employees benefit from accepting it, especially since the first $50,000 is tax-free. Even if you decide to add extra coverage and pay additional taxes, GTL still remains one of the most cost-effective ways to secure additional protection.
Now that you understand what GTL stands for on a pay stub, you can look over your paycheck with greater confidence. And should the need arise to generate one on your own at any point in time, revisit this article or use a reliable paystub generator – either way will do.
Disclaimer: StubCreator is not associated with GTL or its Associates; their brands or logos are trademarked or registered trademarks, so the following article serves only as general guidance regarding accessing GTL paystubs; for further assistance, please refer to GTL’s official resources or HR for specific details.
People May Also Ask:
1) What is GTL on my pay stub?
GTL on pay stub represents the taxable value of employer-provided Group Term Life Insurance over $50,000 that must be reported as imputed income under IRS rules.
2) Is GTL a deduction or an earning?
GTL does not represent either an income deduction or earnings, and will have no bearing on your take-home pay.
3) Can I opt-out of GTL?
Most companies provide basic pay stub GTL coverage automatically and cannot be declined; however, optional or supplemental GTL policies can often be declined if additional protection isn’t desired.
4) What does GTL stand for?
GTL stands for Group Term Life Insurance and is an increasingly popular employer-provided life insurance benefit.
5) What does GTL mean on a check?
Your GTL on paycheck indicates the tax-calculable value of life insurance coverage your employer provides over $50,000 so that taxes can be accurately computed.
6) What is GTL contribution in salary?
GTL contributions are calculated by the IRS as the cost of providing life insurance benefits that exceed $50K to employees, but you don’t have to pay them; rather, they will be added as compliance costs to taxable wages for compliance.
FAQ's
Where can I access my GTL pay stubs?
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Log in to the GTL member portal using your credentials. You can usually find a dedicated section for pay stubs or financial records.
What if I forgot my GTL member portal login details?
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Use the "Forgot Password" option on the portal's login page. Follow the instructions to reset your password or retrieve your username.
How often are GTL pay stubs updated on the portal?
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Pay stubs are typically updated according to your payment schedule, which can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on your arrangement.
Can I download and print my GTL pay stubs?
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Yes, you can usually download and print your pay stubs from the GTL member portal. This helps in maintaining a physical record of your earnings.

