Colorado PTO Cash-Out Calculator
See the net value of cashing out unused PTO in Colorado after federal, state, and FICA tax.
$2,500.00
Gross payout before taxes
Est. taxes: ~$851.25 (34.1%)
$1,648.75
Estimated take-home
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.
Colorado Use-It-Or-Lose-It Prohibitions
Under the Colorado Wage Act and CDLE guidelines, accrued vacation and PTO are legally protected forms of earned compensation. Consequently, use-it-or-lose-it policies that result in the forfeiture of already earned paid leave are strictly prohibited in Colorado. All accrued, unused vacation hours must be compensated at the employee's final rate of pay upon job separation.
Cashing out PTO in Colorado
A Colorado cash-out pays your hourly rate for each unused PTO hour while you stay employed. Because it is a supplemental wage, withholding is 22% federal, an estimated 4.4% Colorado supplemental rate, and 7.65% FICA — so your take-home is noticeably less than the gross. Whether a cash-out is offered at all is set by your employer's policy.
Leaving instead of cashing out? See your full payout and the law on the Colorado PTO payout guide, run the numbers in the free PTO payout calculator, or weigh keeping the time with the rollover calculator.
Should you cash out PTO in Colorado?
Because Colorado treats accrued vacation as earned wages, you don’t have to cash out early to get your money — unused PTO must be paid when you leave the job. Cashing out now mainly helps if you want the cash sooner, since the tax is identical either way. Use-it-or-lose-it forfeiture of earned time is not allowed in Colorado.
Cashing out accrued vacation while remaining actively employed in Colorado is governed by company handbook policy, as state law does not mandate mid-employment payouts. If permitted, the cash-out is taxed as a supplemental wage, subject to a flat 22% federal tax rate, FICA, and Colorado's flat supplemental state rate of 4.4%.
Official Colorado Wage Claim Resources
If you are denied your legal PTO payout or have wage disputes under state labor codes, you can contact the official agency below:
- Wage Agency: Colorado Division of Labor Standards & Statistics (CDLE)
- Phone Support: (303) 318-8441
- Official Website: https://cdle.colorado.gov/labor
Frequently asked questions
How much is a PTO cash-out worth after tax in Colorado? +
A cash-out is a supplemental wage: 22% flat federal withholding, an estimated 4.4% Colorado supplemental rate, and 7.65% FICA. Enter your rate and hours above to see the Colorado net.
Can I cash out PTO while employed in Colorado? +
Cashing out PTO while still employed depends on your employer's policy, not Colorado law — no state requires in-employment cash-out. Check your handbook for whether and when it is allowed.
Is a Colorado cash-out taxed differently from a payout when I leave? +
No. Both are supplemental wages with the same withholding: 22% federal, an estimated 4.4% Colorado supplemental rate, and FICA. The difference is timing, not tax treatment.