Free PTO Payout Calculator
Estimate your gross and net cash-out value with our free, updated PTO payout calculator. Factor in your hourly rate, FICA, and state-specific tax rules.
Whether you are searching for a pto payout calculator after taxes, a california pto payout calculator, or need to run a pto calculator payout check, we provide a full breakdown.
Gross earnings
$2,500.00
Federal (22%)
−$550.00
State + FICA
−$316.25
Net take-home
$1,633.75
80 accrued hours · $31.25/hr · 65.4% net
PTO Payout Calculator: Estimate Your Gross & Net Cash Out
How are you paid?
Your full pay before taxes are taken out
Most full-time jobs are 40
How many PTO hours you have left. Check your latest pay stub.
This changes the legal advice below, not the dollar amount.
Final Separation Pay Estimation
ptopayoutcalculator.com — estimate, not tax or legal advice
Estimated Final Separation Pay
Gross Value of Earned Vacation Time
$2,500.00
80 hrs × $31.25/hr
Pick your state above to see how much tax comes out and what's left over.
Estimates only. Tax withholding may differ based on your full-year income, filing status, and deductions. Consult a tax professional for exact figures.
Disclaimer: Calculations are based on the 2026 IRS Supplemental Wage Rate (22% flat federal withholding) and current state labor department guidelines. Always consult an employment attorney for binding legal disputes.
Disclaimer: These figures are automated estimates for informational and educational use under current labor guidelines. This calculator does not process binding tax or legal withholding, and does not constitute formal accounting or employment law advice. Always verify final calculations with your local labor department or a qualified legal expert.
Add this free, interactive calculator to your own site or blog. It runs instantly in the browser and helps your readers calculate their PTO payout.
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<p style="font-size:12px;text-align:center;color:#4b5a70">Powered by <a href="https://ptopayoutcalculator.com/" target="_blank" style="color:#533afd;text-decoration:none;font-weight:500">PTOPayoutCalculator.com</a></p> Estimates only. PTO payout rights and tax withholding vary by state, employer policy, and individual circumstances. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult your state labor department or a qualified professional. See our methodology.
How to Calculate Your PTO Payout
To **calculate your PTO payout** and determine your final job separation compensation, multiply your accrued time off hours by your hourly rate for the gross amount. Next, subtract supplemental tax withholding — 22% federal, your local state rate, and 7.65% FICA — to find your estimated net take-home. The withholding tax rate for cashing out unused annual leave is a flat 22% federal supplemental wage tax, plus state and FICA.
1. Find your hourly rate. If you are salaried, divide your annual salary by 2,080 (52 weeks × 40 hours). Hourly employees use their stated rate.
2. Multiply by accrued hours. Take your unused annual leave balance and multiply it by your hourly rate to get the gross total. If you track your balance in hours and want to see how many standard shifts or workweeks it provides, use our PTO Hours to Days Calculator.
3. Subtract taxes. Accrued time off cash-outs are supplemental wages: 22% federal withholding, your state rate, and 7.65% FICA. What remains is your estimated net take-home. For a complete state-by-state breakdown of supplemental withholding rates, use our dedicated pto payout tax rate calculator or refer to the main PTO Payout Tax Calculator.
Want the law for your state? See our 50-state guide, read how it works, or browse common questions about leave.
# Accrued Leave Formula hourly_rate = annual_salary / (hours_per_week × 52) gross_amount = accrued_hours × hourly_rate # Example: $65,000 salary, 80 leave hours $65,000 / (40 × 52) = $31.25/hr $31.25 × 80 hours = $2,500.00 gross
Three steps to your exact payout.
Enter your pay details.
Your annual salary or hourly rate, and how many accrued leave hours you've saved but haven't used.
Choose your state.
We apply the correct state tax rate and show whether your state legally requires your employer to pay out unused PTO.
Get your full breakdown.
Gross total, federal tax, state tax, FICA, and your real net take-home — plus a downloadable PDF for your records.
Know your rights in your state.
16 states require payouts of unused annual leave by law. 29 states depend on your written company policy. 6 states have no requirement at all. Check where your state stands.
View all 50 states →California
All accrued vacation is earned wages in California. Use-it-or-lose-it policies are illegal and unused PTO must be paid at the final rate of pay upon separation.
California PTO laws →Colorado
Accrued vacation is treated as wages under Colorado law. Earned PTO cannot be forfeited and must be paid out at separation regardless of reason.
Colorado PTO laws →Texas
Texas has no state law requirement. Your rights depend entirely on your employment contract and company PTO policy.
Texas PTO laws →How is Paid Time Off (PTO) Calculated and Paid Out?
Understanding your paid time off (PTO) balance, accrual rates, and final separation values is critical for planning vacations and managing job transitions. This guide explains the math, pay-period cycles, tax withholding rules, and tools available to help estimate your exact compensation.
1. PTO Accruals
An accrued PTO calculator helps track how much vacation time you bank over the course of a year. The math behind how your time accumulates depends on whether your employer grants leave dynamically or per pay period.
If your company uses a PTO accrual calculator based on hours worked, your earned hours are calculated by multiplying your total hours by a fractional rate (e.g., earning 0.0385 hours of leave per hour worked).
Alternatively, if you accrue time off per pay cycle, you can divide your total annual allocation by your total yearly pay periods. For a standard bi-weekly schedule (26 pay periods), a yearly allowance of 80 hours yields 3.08 hours of accrued time per check. Use our free online PTO Accrual Calculator to run these calculations automatically.
2. Payouts & Tax Rules
When you leave your job, a PTO payout calculator estimates the cash value of your unused vacation. Hourly employees simply multiply their unused hours by their hourly wage. Salaried workers divide their annual salary by 2,080 (standard full-time working hours in a year) to find their hourly equivalent.
If you are cashing out while staying at your company, the math is identical and can be estimated using our PTO Cash-Out Calculator.
Note that the IRS classifies vacation payouts as supplemental wages, which are subject to a flat 22% federal tax withholding rate, plus FICA payroll taxes (7.65%) and applicable state taxes. To estimate your exact net take-home, check out our PTO Payout Tax Calculator.
3. Conversions & Spreadsheets
To convert your hours balance into standard workdays, divide your total hours by your typical workday length (usually 8 hours). For example, 80 hours equates to 10 days of leave. For automated conversions, try our PTO Hours to Days Calculator.
Conversion Cheat Sheet
40h
5d
80h
10d
120h
15d
160h
20d
200h
25d
If you work part-time, your accruals are generally scaled relative to a full-time 40-hour schedule.
While many HR departments track employee balances using a manual Excel spreadsheet, templates often lack built-in state tax rates, supplemental wage overrides, or real-time final paycheck regulatory rules.
State, Federal & Employer-Specific PTO Rules
Calculating a PTO payout isn't always a simple hourly rate multiplication. Depending on your state's labor laws, the nature of your employer, or your tax bracket, different rules apply. Our pto payout calculator framework is designed to help you navigate these unique scenarios:
California Payout Rules
Under California Labor Code Section 227.3, accrued vacation time is legally protected as earned wages. If you are cashing out at separation, a california pto payout calculator (or pto payout california calculator) ensures your employer pays 100% of your remaining hours at your final pay rate. "Use-it-or-lose-it" policies are illegal under California law, meaning a pto payout calculator california calculation will never include forfeiture deductions.
Federal Government Civil Service
Federal civil servants are subject to standardized regulations. A federal government pto payout calculator calculates lump-sum payouts for accumulated annual leave upon separation. The calculation is based on the employee's basic pay rate and is usually capped at the standard carry-over limit of 240 hours, except in cases of specific agency-authorized emergency exceptions.
Corporate Policies (e.g., Petco)
Corporate policies can vary widely by role and tenure. For example, a petco pto payout calculator scenario must apply corporate guidelines on voluntary leave cash-out versus separation payouts. Depending on whether you work in retail or corporate and quit with or without notice, your eligibility and payout caps are determined by the employee handbook alongside state-level minimum regulations.
PTO Payout Tax Rates
Because payouts are treated as supplemental wages, your cashing-out check is taxed differently than a regular paycheck. Using a pto payout tax rate calculator or a pto payout tax calculator applies the standard IRS flat 22% federal supplemental rate, 7.65% FICA, and state withholding. Using a pto payout calculator after taxes helps you see the actual take-home net.
Accrued Payout Calculations
Estimating your payout requires tracking accrued time off accurately. A standard accrued pto payout calculator tallies the hours earned per pay cycle. If you need to evaluate older balances, an accrued calculator for pto 24 payout or similar cycle-specific calculation helps verify that you receive full compensation for all accumulated, unused days.
PTO Calculator Payout Estimates
Before cashing out or resigning, running a pto calculator payout estimate gives you financial clarity. Calculating your payout ahead of time helps you plan for the tax impact of receiving a lump sum, ensuring you can request the correct payout values from your HR department.
Key Terminology Reference Index
Below is a summary of the core search concepts and calculation terms targeted for full transparency. All formulas follow official IRS and labor board guidelines.
| Target Keyword / Concept | Category | Calculation Method & Logic |
|---|---|---|
| pto payout calculator | Primary Tool | Estimating the gross and net cash value of accrued unused PTO at separation. |
| pto payout tax rate calculator | Tax Treatment | Calculates flat 22% federal supplemental rate, FICA, and state-specific tax rates. |
| california pto payout calculator | State Regulation | Estimates payout under CA laws that treat accrued vacation as earned, non-forfeitable wages. |
| pto calculator payout | General Estimate | Determining cashing-out values by cashing out accrued, unused vacation hours. |
| pto payout calculator after taxes | Net Pay Check | Calculates the final net take-home pay after deducting federal, state, and FICA withholdings. |
| pto payout calculator with tax | Tax Treatment | Estimates gross cash value and details the supplemental tax breakdown on cashing out. |
| pto payout tax calculator | Tax Treatment | Applies supplemental wage tax guidelines to estimate net take-home payout values. |
| pto payout california calculator | State Regulation | A specific tool for California workers cashing out accrued PTO at final separation. |
| pto payout calculator california | State Regulation | Computes California PTO cash-out under Labor Code Section 227.3. |
| accrued calculator for pto 24 payout | Historical Accrual | Estimates payout value for accrued leave hours remaining from recent periods (e.g. 2024 cycles). |
| accrued pto payout calculator | Accrual Tracking | Computes payout based on accumulated vacation hours accumulated over regular work hours. |
| federal government pto payout calculator | Civil Service Rules | Determines lump-sum payouts for federal civil service workers based on hourly basic pay. |
| petco pto payout calculator | Employer Policy | Applies company-specific policies (like Petco's corporate handbook guidelines) to cashing out. |
Leave and pay computation tools.
Vacation Payout Calculator
The same payout math under the "vacation payout" name.
PTO Payout Tax Calculator
Your payout after 22% federal, state tax, and FICA.
PTO Accrual Calculator
How many PTO hours you have actually banked to date.
PTO Cash-Out Calculator
The net value of cashing out unused PTO while employed.
PTO Rollover Calculator
Carryover vs. forfeiture and the cash value of time at risk.
Accrual to Lump-Sum PTO Calculator
Prorate the switch from accrual to front-loaded PTO without double-crediting time.
PTO Hours to Days
Convert a PTO hour balance into workdays at a glance.
Final Paycheck Calculator
Unpaid wages plus accrued PTO owed at separation.
Severance Pay Calculator
Estimate a severance package from tenure and pay.
Salary to Hourly Calculator
Convert an annual salary into an accurate hourly rate.
Military Leave Payout Calculator
Sell-back value of unused military leave at 1/30 of basic pay.
Stop guessing. Calculate your exact payout.
Trusted by employees across all 50 states. Free, instant, no account required.
Compensation and leave guides for workplace planning.
New York PTO Payout Law (2026): Rules & Handbooks
Does New York require employers to pay out unused vacation time? Read about N.Y. Labor Law rules, use-it-or-lose-it policies, and final paycheck deadlines.
Read more → State LawTexas PTO Payout Law (2026): Rules & Final Pay
Does Texas require employers to pay unused PTO at termination? Read about Texas Payday Law rules, use-it-or-lose-it policies, and final paycheck deadlines.
Read more → State LawIllinois PTO Payout Law (2026): Rules & Rights
Learn Illinois PTO payout laws for 2026. Understand when employers must pay unused vacation, final paycheck deadlines, use-it-or-lose-it rules, and PLAW Act details.
Read more →Frequently asked questions.
How much is PTO payout taxed? +
A PTO payout is taxed at a flat federal rate of 22% because the IRS classifies it as supplemental income. In addition to the 22% federal withholding, your payout is also subject to FICA taxes (7.65% for Social Security and Medicare) and applicable state income taxes.
Is PTO payout taxed as regular income? +
Yes. PTO payouts are classified as supplemental wages by the IRS. Federal withholding is applied at the flat 22% supplemental rate (37% if over $1M total). State and FICA taxes also apply. Use our calculator to see your estimated net payout by state.
Does my employer have to pay out my unused PTO? +
It depends on your state. 24+ states require payout of accrued vacation upon termination. States like California, Colorado, and Massachusetts treat accrued PTO as earned wages that cannot be forfeited. Other states leave it up to company policy.
How to calculate PTO payout? +
To calculate your PTO payout, multiply your unused accrued vacation hours by your hourly pay rate. If you are salaried, first calculate your hourly equivalent rate (annual salary ÷ 2,080) and multiply it by your unused PTO hours to find your gross payout before taxes.
How do you calculate vacation payout for salaried employees? +
Divide your annual salary by 2,080 (52 weeks × 40 hours) to get your hourly equivalent rate, then multiply that rate by your accrued PTO hours. For example: $65,000 ÷ 2,080 = $31.25/hr × 80 hours = $2,500 gross vacation payout.
How does a PTO payout work? +
A PTO payout works by cashing out your accrued, unused vacation hours when you separate from your employer or if your company has an active employee buyback policy. The gross payout is taxed as supplemental income (22% flat federal withholding plus FICA and state taxes), leaving you with your final net take-home pay.
What is the difference between PTO payout and severance? +
PTO payout is compensation for earned-but-unused paid time off — it may be legally required depending on your state. Severance is additional compensation an employer may (but rarely must) offer when ending employment.
Can I get a PDF of my calculation? +
Yes. Our calculator includes a free PDF export with your full breakdown: gross payout, tax withholding, and net take-home. No signup required.