Colorado final paycheck law

Layoffs and other situations

Late checks for off-site payroll may go to the worksite, the employer's local office, or the employee's last known address. If an employee does not collect a check within 60 days, the employer must mail it to the last known address. Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

Unused vacation and PTO

Required. If you offer paid vacation, all earned, determinable vacation pay must be paid at separation. Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

If the final paycheck is late

Unpaid within 14 days of a written demand, administrative claim or lawsuit: wages plus the greater of 2x the unpaid amount or $1,000; if willful, the greater of 3x or $3,000. Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: content.leg.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

Recent changes

HB25-1001 (effective August 6, 2025) lets the state waive the penalty if the employer pays in full within 14 days of an administrative claim (not for a repeat failure within five years), and allows penalties for groups of similar employees. Final pay deadlines did not change. Source: content.leg.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)

The law and where to check

The law: C.R.S. §§ 8-4-101(14)(a)(III), 8-4-109 (opens in a new tab)

The agency: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (DLSS) (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 Colorado employers

A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.

1. Write down how the job ended: fired or let go, or the employee quit. If they quit, note whether and when they gave notice.
2. Find the deadline for that situation in the table above.
3. Add up all hours worked up to the last day, including any overtime.
4. Check your written vacation or PTO policy and the vacation rule above.
5. Add any commission or bonus that was earned, using the rules above.
6. Pay on time by your usual method, or by mail if the rules above allow it and the employee asks.
7. Keep a dated record of what you paid and when.

More Colorado employment law guides

• All Colorado employment laws
• Colorado paid sick leave law
• Colorado meal and rest break laws
• Colorado overtime law
• Colorado pay frequency law
• Colorado vacation and PTO payout law
• Colorado new hire reporting
• Colorado at-will exceptions

Final paycheck laws in other states

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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: October 19, 2026. 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.