When is the final paycheck due in Kentucky after discharge or resignation?

KRS 337.055 requires payment no later than the later of: (a) the next normal pay period following the separation date, or (b) 14 calendar days following the separation date. Both discharge and voluntary leaving are covered by the same rule.

Does Kentucky use the earlier or later of the two dates?

Kentucky uses the LATER of the two dates: the next normal pay period or 14 calendar days from separation. This is unusual — most states use the earlier of the two options.

Does Kentucky law treat discharged and quitting employees differently for final pay?

No. KRS 337.055 applies the same later-of rule to both employees who are dismissed and employees who voluntarily leave. The deadline is the same regardless of who initiated the separation.

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Kentucky final pay

Kentucky Final Paycheck Deadline Calculator

KRS 337.055 sets an unusual rule: final wages are due by the later of the next normal pay period or 14 calendar days after separation. Both discharge and voluntary resignation use the same formula.

Kentucky's KRS 337.055 requires that a separated employee — whether dismissed or voluntarily leaving — be paid all earned wages no later than the next normal pay period following the separation date OR 14 calendar days after separation, whichever date comes later. — Source: KRS Chapter 337 (Kentucky Legislature)

Note — Kentucky uses the LATER date: Unlike most states that use the earlier of two options, KRS 337.055 specifies the date that occurs last. For a biweekly payroll, the next payday may fall before or after 14 days; the later date governs.

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Kentucky's distinctive "later of" rule

KRS 337.055 states verbatim: wages shall be paid "not later than the next normal pay period following the date of dismissal or voluntary leaving or fourteen (14) days following such date of dismissal or voluntary leaving whichever last occurs." This means Kentucky intentionally picks the later date — giving employers more time than the next payday alone, up to a hard ceiling of 14 days.

Pay frequency	Typical effect
Weekly payroll	14-day date likely governs (next payday within 7 days is earlier)
Biweekly payroll	Next payday governs when it falls after day 14; otherwise the 14-day date governs
Semi-monthly payroll	Similar to biweekly — depends on exact separation timing

Worked example: biweekly payroll, separated mid-cycle

Separation date: 2026-08-10 (Monday) 14 calendar days later: 2026-08-24 Next regular payday: 2026-08-21 (earlier — falls before day 14) Governing deadline: 2026-08-24 (the later date — KRS 337.055)

Worked example: biweekly payroll, separated near end of cycle

Separation date: 2026-08-20 (Thursday) 14 calendar days later: 2026-09-03 Next regular payday: 2026-09-04 (later — falls after day 14) Governing deadline: 2026-09-04 (the later date — KRS 337.055)

What this calculator does not determine

The amount of wages, commissions, accrued vacation, or bonuses owed.
Any penalty or liquidated damages for late payment — no penalty verified from a primary source for this calculator.
Whether a collective-bargaining agreement or employment contract provides a different timeline.

Sources and verification

The deadline rule is confirmed from the text of KRS Chapter 337 (Kentucky Legislature), cross-referenced with lawserver.com's reproduction of the KRS 337.055 text. The statute was created by the 1974 Kentucky Acts. No penalty provision for late final pay was verified from a primary source; this page accordingly shows no penalty estimate.

Common questions

Why does Kentucky pick the later date rather than the earlier one?

KRS 337.055 was written that way — it explicitly says "whichever last occurs." The intent appears to guarantee at least 14 calendar days for wage accounting, while still requiring payment no later than the next normal payroll cycle when that falls after 14 days.

Does Kentucky have a separate final pay rule for immediate discharge?

No. Unlike California (immediate for discharge) or Texas (6 calendar days), Kentucky uses the same later-of formula for both discharge and resignation, with no separate "immediate" requirement for firing.

Is accrued vacation paid on separation in Kentucky?

Kentucky defines "wages" to include vested vacation pay. Whether unused vacation has vested depends on the employer's policy. This calculator does not determine vacation pay entitlement.