Final paycheck calculator.
Add your unpaid regular wages and your accrued PTO payout to estimate gross final pay and subtract deductions supplied by payroll.
Include federal, state, local, Social Security, Medicare, benefits, and other deductions. Leave blank if unknown.
- Regular wages before deductions
- $1,250.00
- Eligible PTO before deductions
- $2,500.00
$3,750.00
Gross final paycheck
Regular wages and PTO can use different withholding methods. This tool does not apply a flat supplemental tax rate to your entire paycheck. It excludes overtime premiums, commissions, bonuses, and disputed amounts; confirm payable hours with payroll and your state guide.
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.
Tax figures assume eligible flat supplemental withholding: 22% federal below the annual $1 million threshold, payroll taxes, and an illustrative state rate. Employers may use other permitted methods. Prior wages are assumed to be zero unless entered; state rates and individual payroll deductions need confirmation with payroll.
Final paycheck for a terminated employee
Your final paycheck compiles all outstanding compensation you earned before separating from your company: unpaid regular hourly wages or salary, accrued and unused PTO or vacation hours (where mandated by policy or law), unpaid commissions, and bonuses. This calculator multiplies your hourly equivalent rate by your hours worked and remaining vacation hours, showing regular wages and eligible PTO separately. Enter total withholding and deductions from payroll to calculate net; no tax rate is automatically applied to regular wages. It is important to note the difference between standard final wages (consisting of pay you have already earned) and redundancy packages or exit bonuses offered upon layoff; these discretionary exit payments are calculated separately using our Severance Pay Calculator.
Want to look at only the PTO portion of your payout, with tax breakdown details and a downloadable PDF report? Use our main PTO Payout Calculator, see the dedicated Vacation Payout Calculator, or read up on the rules where you work using the 50-state PTO payout law guide.
California employee? If your employer delivered your final check late, you may be owed daily wage penalties. Check out our California waiting time penalty calculator.
Federal Final Paycheck Laws (The FLSA Rule)
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Department of Labor does not mandate that final paychecks be delivered immediately upon an employee's separation. Instead, federal guidelines state that employers must generally pay regular wages for the final pay period on or before the next regularly scheduled payday. However, federal law does not regulate the payout of unused fringe benefits, like vacation or sick leave, leaving those rules entirely to state legislatures.
Resignation vs. Termination: Payout Timing Deadlines
State laws often set different timing deadlines depending on whether you resigned voluntarily (quit) or were terminated involuntarily (fired, laid off):
- Involuntary Separation (Fired/Laid Off): Many employee-friendly states require that workers receive their final pay immediately on their last day (e.g., California, Colorado, Hawaii) or within 24 to 72 hours. This prevents employers from leaving terminated workers without funds.
- Voluntary Separation (Quit/Resigned): If you quit and provide adequate notice (typically 72 hours), states like California require your final check to be ready on your last day. Without notice, the timeline is usually extended to 72 hours or the next scheduled pay cycle.
If an employer delays your final paycheck past these statutory deadlines, they face significant legal consequences. For example, in states like California, Colorado, or Oregon, employers may owe you substantial daily penalties for late payments. You can calculate these penalties using our Waiting Time Penalty Calculator.
Final paycheck laws by state & requirements
Select your state below to see the exact final pay timeline for voluntary vs. involuntary separation and calculate your estimated final check:
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a final paycheck?+
Your final paycheck includes any regular wages you earned but have not yet been paid, plus a payout of accrued unused PTO where state law or your policy requires it. Some states also require unused commissions or bonuses to be paid.
When must my employer pay my final paycheck?+
Final-pay deadlines vary by state and by whether you quit or were discharged — from the next regular payday to the same day as termination. Several states impose waiting-time penalties for late final pay.
Is my final paycheck taxed differently?+
Regular wages and eligible supplemental payments can use different withholding methods. Payroll may use the optional flat federal method or an aggregate method when permitted; state rules and prior wages also matter. This calculator shows gross components and subtracts only the deductions you enter.
Can a company withhold your final paycheck?+
No. Under federal law (FLSA) and most state labor laws, a company cannot withhold your final paycheck for unreturned equipment, poor performance, or lack of notice. If an employer illegally holds your final pay, they may be subject to severe waiting time penalties.