Layoffs and other situations
Final pay must be in U.S. money or an instrument that can be cashed or deposited immediately, dated no later than the day issued (A.R.S. § 23-353(C)). Withholding is allowed only where law permits, with prior written consent, or during a reasonable good-faith dispute (A.R.S. § 23-352). Source: azleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Unused vacation and PTO
Not specifically addressed by the final pay statute; vacation and PTO can be claimed as wages with the Labor Department. Accrued earned paid sick time need not be paid out. Source: azica.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
If the final paycheck is late
Employee may sue for three times the unpaid wages (A.R.S. § 23-355). Violating the final pay rule is also a petty offense (A.R.S. § 23-353). Source: azleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: azleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Recent changes
In 2025 (Laws 2025, ch. 38), Arizona raised the limit for wage claims filed with the state Labor Department from $5,000 to $12,000. Final pay deadlines did not change. Source: azleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
The law and where to check
The law: A.R.S. §§ 23-353, 23-355, 23-356 (opens in a new tab)
The agency: Industrial Commission of Arizona, Labor Department (opens in a new tab)
What federal law says
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to give a final paycheck immediately. The U.S. Department of Labor says an employee who has not received final pay by the regular payday for their last pay period can contact its Wage and Hour Division or the state labor department. Source: U.S. Department of Labor↗ (opens in a new tab)
Final paycheck checklist for Arizona employers
A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.
- Write down how the job ended: fired or let go, or the employee quit. If they quit, note whether and when they gave notice.
- Find the deadline for that situation in the table above.
- Add up all hours worked up to the last day, including any overtime.
- Check your written vacation or PTO policy and the vacation rule above.
- Add any commission or bonus that was earned, using the rules above.
- Pay on time by your usual method, or by mail if the rules above allow it and the employee asks.
- Keep a dated record of what you paid and when.
More Arizona employment law guides
- All Arizona employment laws
- Arizona paid sick leave law
- Arizona meal and rest break laws
- Arizona overtime law
- Arizona pay frequency law
- Arizona vacation and PTO payout law
- Arizona new hire reporting
- Arizona at-will exceptions
Final paycheck laws in other states
See every state on one page, or pick a state:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
All official government sources, last checked October 19, 2026.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on publicly available official sources and is for information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or employment-law advice and does not guarantee compliance with federal, state or local requirements. Rules can depend on your location, industry, contracts and other circumstances, and laws change. Always check the official source, the relevant government agency or a qualified professional before making a decision. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for any action taken based on this page.
Last checked: . Every rule and source link on this page was checked against the official government source on this date. Laws change, so always open the source link before you act.