Final Paycheck Laws in Iowa
When a Iowa employer must pay your last paycheck if you are fired, laid off or quit, and whether unused vacation must be paid out.
Short answer: By the next regular payday for the pay period in which the wages were earned. Commission differences are due within 30 days. Iowa Code § 91A.4
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | By the next regular payday for the pay period in which the wages were earned. Commission differences are due within 30 days. Source: Iowa Code § 91A.4 |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | By the next regularly scheduled payday, the same as for firing. |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Only if the employer has a contract, policy or practice of paying vacation to departing employees. Employers must follow their own policies on sick time, vacation and holidays. When vacation accrues pro rata under a policy or agreement, it is calculated by the part of the year actually worked. |
Where to get help in Iowa
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Division of Labor — Wage Unit
- File a complaint or claim
More Iowa employment law
- Minimum Wage in Iowa
- Meal and Rest Break Laws in Iowa
- Wrongful Termination in Iowa
- Paid Sick Leave in Iowa
- All Iowa employment law rules
FAQ
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Iowa?
By the next regular payday for the pay period in which the wages were earned. Commission differences are due within 30 days.
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Iowa?
By the next regularly scheduled payday, the same as for firing.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Iowa?
Only if the employer has a contract, policy or practice of paying vacation to departing employees. Employers must follow their own policies on sick time, vacation and holidays. When vacation accrues pro rata under a policy or agreement, it is calculated by the part of the year actually worked.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.