Texas Final Paycheck Deadline Calculator

The Texas Payday Law (Labor Code Chapter 61) sets two different deadlines: 6 calendar days from the date of discharge for terminated employees, and the next regularly scheduled payday for employees who voluntarily resign. Enter the details to estimate your deadline.

Under the Texas Payday Law (Texas Labor Code Chapter 61), an involuntarily discharged Texas employee must receive all wages within 6 calendar days of the discharge date; an employee who voluntarily quits or resigns receives final wages on the next regularly scheduled payday. — Source: Texas Workforce Commission — Texas Payday Law

Enter separation details

Texas's two-track final paycheck rule

The Texas Workforce Commission confirms these deadlines under Texas Labor Code Chapter 61:

Separation type	Deadline
Discharged, fired, or terminated involuntarily	Within 6 calendar days of discharge (weekends count)
Voluntary resignation or quit	Next regularly scheduled payday

Calendar days, not working days: The 6-day deadline for discharges counts every calendar day including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. A discharge on Friday must be paid by the following Thursday.

Worked example: discharged on a Friday

Discharge date: 2026-08-14 (Friday) Calendar days counted: Sat 8/15, Sun 8/16, Mon 8/17, Tue 8/18, Wed 8/19, Thu 8/20 Deadline: 2026-08-20 (Thursday — 6 calendar days later)

Worked example: voluntary resignation

Resignation date: 2026-08-14 (Friday) Next regularly scheduled payday: 2026-08-28 (biweekly) Deadline: 2026-08-28

Texas Workforce Commission enforcement

Wage claims must be filed with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) within 180 days of the date the wages were due. The TWC investigates claims and can order payment. Employers may face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for repeat violations. Claimants may also pursue civil court remedies.

What this calculator does not determine

The amount of wages, commissions, accrued vacation, or bonuses owed.
Whether accrued vacation must be paid at separation (Texas does not generally require it, but employer policies may).
Whether a collective-bargaining agreement or employment contract changes the applicable deadline.
The 180-day filing deadline for TWC wage claims.

Sources and verification

The discharge and resignation deadlines are confirmed from the Texas Workforce Commission — Texas Payday Law page (twc.texas.gov), as noted in the site research findings. The governing statute is Texas Labor Code Chapter 61. Calculator tests verify the 6-calendar-day arithmetic for discharge, next-payday assignment for resignation, and invalid-date rejection.

Common questions

Does the Texas 6-day rule count from the last day worked or the day the employee was notified?

The Texas Payday Law counts from the date of discharge — typically the date the employee was told or the effective date of the termination. Use the discharge date entered in the calculator above.

Can a Texas employer be penalized for missing the 6-day discharge deadline?

Yes. The TWC can assess penalties and require payment of overdue wages. For repeat violations, penalties can reach $1,000 per violation. Employees have 180 days from when wages were due to file a claim with the TWC.

Does Texas require payout of accrued vacation at separation?

Not by default. Texas does not have a general statutory requirement to pay out accrued vacation. However, if the employer's own policy promises vacation payout, that promise is enforceable as a wage claim under the Texas Payday Law.

What if the discharge date falls on a Friday — is the deadline the next Thursday?

Yes. Six calendar days from a Friday lands on the following Thursday. Weekends and holidays count toward the 6-day window — the deadline does not extend to the next business day.