CACalifornia final paycheck law
If you are fired in California, your final pay is due immediately on the day you are fired. If you quit, it is due within 72 hours of quitting.
| If you | Your last check is due |
|---|---|
| were fired or laid off | Immediately on the day you are fired |
| quit | Within 72 hours of quitting. At the time of quitting if at least 72 hours' notice was given |
| have unused vacation | It must be paid. Earned but unused vacation and PTO is earned wages and must be paid when you leave the job. Use-it-or-lose-it policies are not allowed. |
| are paid late | Waiting-time penalty: one day of wages for each day final pay is late, up to 30 days (Labor Code 203). Not applied where there is a genuine disagreement. |
| want to read the law | Labor Code 201, 202, 203, 227.3checked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? California calculator
What these words mean
- Final paycheck
- The last pay you are owed after a job ends: all hours worked and, in some states, your unused vacation.
- Late-pay penalty
- Extra money some states make an employer pay when your final check is late.
- Payout
- Being paid cash for paid time off you earned but never used.
- Wage complaint
- A free claim you file with your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor when you are not paid what the law requires.
Questions
I was fired in California. When do I get my last check?
Immediately on the day you are fired. It must include the vacation you earned but did not use.
I quit my job in California. When do I get my last check?
Within 72 hours of quitting. At the time of quitting if at least 72 hours' notice was given.
What if my employer pays my last check late in California?
Waiting-time penalty: one day of wages for each day final pay is late, up to 30 days (Labor Code 203). Not applied where there is a genuine disagreement.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in California?
Yes, the law requires it. Earned but unused vacation and PTO is earned wages and must be paid when you leave the job. Use-it-or-lose-it policies are not allowed. See California PTO payout rules.
Can my employer keep my last check until I return my uniform or laptop?
No. Money you earned is yours. An employer can only take out what the law or a signed agreement allows. If the check is late, file a free wage complaint with the California labor office.