Teens need paycheck primer on first job

'When do I get paid?" That's one of the first questions teens have when starting a first job, says Tracy Kolsin, assistant director of the Southampton Youth Bureau. But plenty of other questions -- about gross pay, net pay, earnings, withholding -- don't get asked.

That's why it's a good idea for parents to help explain the ins and outs of payroll and paychecks, remembering that nothing is too basic. Kolsin tells of one mom who called a year after her child's job ended, asking if the paychecks could be reissued. Her child saved the checks, not realizing they had an expiration date. Topics to consider:

Accounts: Look into youth checking accounts, so your son or daughter can get direct deposit. Bethpage Federal Credit Union offers such an account, free of charge, to those as young as 15, says Gerard Schmitt, marketing vice president. Be sure to point out mobile-alert features, he said, so your teen can monitor how much is in the account. It's never too early to learn about fees for overdrawing an account.

Terms: You'll find an "anatomy of a paycheck" page at Schwabmoneywise.com; just click on "talking to kids." Loretta Greiff, director of administration at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, also suggests encouraging teens to ask managers and human resources personnel about paycheck questions.

Taxes: If you claim your child as a dependent, then his or her taxable income is linked to yours. So you'll have to plan accordingly as to withholding decisions.

Rights: Finally, a good place to learn about legal issues related to employment of minors, including wage and work hours, is at labor.state.ny.us/worker protection/laborstandards/ workprot/minors.shtm.