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Texas final paycheck law: when your last check is due

In Texas, if you were fired or laid off, your final wages are generally due within 6 calendar days of the discharge. If you quit after giving notice, they are generally due on or before the next regular payday. If you quit without notice, they are generally due on or before the next regular payday. This comes from Tex. Lab. Code § 61.014.

Deadlines at a glance

Fired or laid off

Final wages due within 6 calendar days of the discharge

Quit with notice

Final wages due on or before the next regular payday

Quit without notice

Final wages due on or before the next regular payday

Statute

Tex. Lab. Code § 61.014

Wage claim agency

Texas Workforce Commission

Penalties and details

Wage claims under the Texas Payday Law generally must be filed within 180 days of the due date.

What counts as wages in your final paycheck

Final pay usually covers more than your last regular hours. Depending on your state and your employer's policy, it can include unpaid regular and overtime hours, earned commissions, bonuses that have already been earned, accrued unused vacation or PTO where state law or company policy treats it as earned wages, and unreimbursed business expenses.

What to do if the Texas deadline passes

  1. Write down the facts: your last day worked, the amount you believe you are owed, and any messages from your employer about payment.
  2. Send a written demand letter that names the Texas deadline and gives your employer a short, specific window to pay.
  3. Send it by email and by certified mail with return receipt, and keep proof of delivery. See how certified mail works.
  4. If the deadline in your letter passes without payment, file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission.

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Common questions

When is my final paycheck due in Texas if I was fired?

In Texas, final wages are generally due within 6 calendar days of the discharge after an involuntary termination.

When is my final paycheck due in Texas if I quit?

If you gave notice, final wages are generally due on or before the next regular payday. If you quit without notice, they are generally due on or before the next regular payday.

Can my employer be penalized for paying late in Texas?

Texas does not have a widely applied waiting-time penalty specific to final pay, but unpaid wages can still be pursued through a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Who do I file an unpaid wage claim with in Texas?

Unpaid wage claims in Texas are handled by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Other states

This page is general information, not legal advice. Last Check GPT is not a law firm. State rules change and exceptions apply; verify with the Texas Workforce Commission before relying on a deadline.