IAIowa final paycheck law
If you are fired in Iowa, your final pay is due by the next regular payday. If you quit, it is due by the next regular payday.
Next paydayif fired or laid off
Next paydayif you quit
Per policyunused vacation
| If you | Your last check is due |
|---|---|
| were fired or laid off | Next regular payday |
| quit | Next regular payday |
| have unused vacation | It is paid if your employer's written policy says so. The employer's written policy or contract governs payout of unused vacation. |
| are paid late | Wage Payment Collection Law: an extra penalty payment of 5% a day up to the amount owed, plus fees, if you file a wage complaint. |
| want to read the law | Iowa Code 91A.4, 91A.8checked October 29, 2026 |
When is my last check due? Iowa calculator
What you are owedupdates as you type
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 Iowa. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
I quit my job in Iowa. When do I get my last check?
Next regular payday.
What if my employer pays my last check late in Iowa?
Wage Payment Collection Law: an extra penalty payment of 5% a day up to the amount owed, plus fees, if you file a wage complaint.
Will my unused vacation be in my last check in Iowa?
Only if your employer's written policy or your contract says so. The employer's written policy or contract governs payout of unused vacation. See Iowa 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 Iowa labor office.