Final Paycheck Laws in Colorado
Colorado has specific final paycheck requirements
Colorado requires immediate payment upon involuntary termination. If the employer's payroll department is not operational at the time, wages are due within 6 hours of the start of the next business day. Employees who quit receive final pay on the next regular payday.
Final paycheck timelines
| If you are fired | Immediately at the time of termination |
|---|---|
| If you quit | Next regular payday |
| Must include PTO payout? | Yes — Colorado requires payout of all accrued vacation upon separation, regardless of reason for separation. Vacation is considered earned compensation under the Colorado Wage Claim Act. |
| Penalties for late payment | Wages continue at the same rate until paid, up to 10 days. Plus penalties of 50% of unpaid wages or $1,000, whichever is greater. |
| Statute | C.R.S. SS 8-4-104 |
Final Paycheck Laws in Colorado: what you need to know
Colorado has a state law that sets specific timelines for when employers must deliver a final paycheck after an employee separates from employment. The timeline typically depends on whether the employee quit or was terminated. Colorado requires immediate payment upon involuntary termination. If the employer's payroll department is not operational at the time, wages are due within 6 hours of the start of the next business day. Employees who quit receive final pay on the next regular payday.
If you are fired or laid off in Colorado, your employer must deliver your final paycheck Immediately at the time of termination. If you quit, the timeline is Next regular payday. These timelines are legal requirements, not suggestions, and employers who miss them may face penalties.
Employers who fail to deliver the final paycheck on time face penalties in Colorado. Wages continue at the same rate until paid, up to 10 days. Plus penalties of 50% of unpaid wages or $1,000, whichever is greater. These penalties serve as a deterrent against employers who might otherwise delay payment, and they provide compensation to workers for the harm caused by late payment.
In Colorado, the final paycheck must include Colorado requires payout of all accrued vacation upon separation, regardless of reason for separation. Vacation is considered earned compensation under the Colorado Wage Claim Act.. This means your employer cannot simply pay your regular wages and withhold your vacation balance. Check your final paycheck carefully to ensure all earned compensation is included.
For Colorado workers who are leaving a job, understanding the final paycheck timeline can help you plan your finances during the transition. If your employer does not deliver your final paycheck by the required deadline, document the delay and contact the Colorado Department of Labor or an employment attorney. You may be entitled to penalties in addition to the unpaid wages.
More Colorado workplace laws
Check other workplace law topics for Colorado:
Frequently asked questions about final paycheck laws in Colorado
Immediately at the time of termination
Next regular payday
Yes. Colorado requires payout of all accrued vacation upon separation, regardless of reason for separation. Vacation is considered earned compensation under the Colorado Wage Claim Act.
Wages continue at the same rate until paid, up to 10 days. Plus penalties of 50% of unpaid wages or $1,000, whichever is greater.
Document the amount owed, your last day of work, and any communications with your employer. File a wage complaint with the Colorado Department of Labor or consult an employment attorney.