The Vermont final paycheck law sets the deadline for your final paycheck: within 72 hours of the discharge if your employer ended the job, and on the last regular payday, or the following Friday if there is no regular payday (21 V.S.A. 342(b)(1)) if you quit.
This guide gives the exact Vermont final paycheck law deadline with the date we verified it, what the employer owes if the check is late, whether your unused vacation must be paid, and how to file a wage claim. Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Vermont Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Program or an attorney before you rely on it.
Vermont Final Paycheck Law at a Glance
| If you were fired | Within 72 hours of the discharge |
| If you quit | On the last regular payday, or the following Friday if there is no regular payday (21 V.S.A. 342(b)(1)) |
| If you were laid off | Within 72 hours of the discharge |
| Statute | 21 V.S.A. 342(c) |
| Penalty for a late check | A fine under 21 V.S.A. 345 and a civil action for the wages with up to double damages and fees (21 V.S.A. 347) |
| Unused vacation owed? | Only if the employer’s policy provides it |
| Where to file a wage claim | Vermont Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Program |
In This Vermont Final Paycheck Law Guide:
The Vermont Final Paycheck Law Deadline
If the employer fires you or lays you off, the Vermont final paycheck law sets the due date like this: within 72 hours of the discharge (21 V.S.A. 342(c)). Vermont courts have treated earned commissions as wages under the state wage-payment law (Stowell v. Action Moving & Storage), so commissions earned before separation are generally part of final pay.
Whether a bonus is owed usually depends on whether it was already earned under the employer’s written plan or agreement, so confirm with the state agency.
Enter your last day and how the job ended, and get the exact Vermont due date, the statute and the penalty if it is late.
Vermont Final Paycheck Law at a Glance
Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Vermont Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Program or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Deadline if fired | Within 72 hours of the discharge |
| Deadline if quit | On the last regular payday, or the following Friday if there is no regular payday (21 V.S.A. 342(b)(1)) |
| Deadline if laid off | Within 72 hours of the discharge |
| Statute | 21 V.S.A. 342(c) |
| Late-payment penalty | A fine under 21 V.S.A. 345 and a civil action for the wages with up to double damages and fees (21 V.S.A. 347) |
| Unused vacation / PTO | Only if the employer’s policy provides it |
| PTO rule | Vacation payout follows the employer’s policy. |
| Deductions allowed | Vermont generally allows deductions from wages only when the law requires them, such as taxes or child support, or when the employee authorized them in writing. |
| Wage-claim agency | Vermont Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Program |
| File a wage claim | https://labor.vermont.gov/wage-and-hour/wage-claims |
Vermont Final Paycheck Law If You Quit
If you quit, the Vermont final paycheck law rule is: on the last regular payday, or the following Friday if there is no regular payday (21 V.S.A. 342(b)(1)). The final paycheck covers wages already earned and is required by law. Severance is extra pay that Vermont generally does not require; it is owed only when a contract, written policy or separation agreement promises it.
The final check may be paid the same way as your regular pay; ask for a paper check if you have closed the account.
Unused Vacation and PTO Under Vermont Final Paycheck Law
Vacation payout follows the employer’s policy. Read the handbook section on vacation before you argue the point — the policy wording decides it.
What the Vermont Final Paycheck Law Does If the Check Is Late
The penalty is the lever: a fine under 21 V.S.A. 345 and a civil action for the wages with up to double damages and fees (21 V.S.A. 347). A Vermont employer may generally hold back only amounts the law requires, such as tax withholding, or amounts the worker authorized in writing.
A dispute over whether wages are owed does not usually excuse paying the undisputed amount, so confirm with the Department of Labor.
What Can Be Deducted From a Final Check in Vermont
Vermont generally allows deductions from wages only when the law requires them, such as taxes or child support, or when the employee authorized them in writing. Charges for required work clothing, and repayment of loans, advances or goods the employer provided, generally need written authorization and cannot exceed the agreed amount. Confirm any deduction for unreturned equipment or a cash shortage with the Department of Labor.
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How to File a Wage Claim Under the Vermont Final Paycheck Law
Most workers file a wage claim with the Wage and Hour Program at the Vermont Department of Labor, either through the Online Wage Claim Form or on the printable Wage Claim Form sent by mail to 63 Pearl Street, Burlington, VT 05401 or by email to [email protected]. The form asks for your details, the employer’s details and the unpaid wages week by week, including any improper deductions or unpaid benefits.
Pay stubs, time records and any messages with the employer may help support the claim. A claim must be filed within 2 years of the date the wages were due (21 V.S.A. § 342a).
The Commissioner sends the employer a copy of the complaint by service or certified mail and orders a response to each allegation within 10 calendar days. The department may then investigate by reviewing payroll records, inspecting the workplace, questioning employees and subpoenaing witnesses or documents. The Wage and Hour Program generally tries to settle the dispute, so confirm the next steps with the agency.
A Vermont worker may sue for unpaid final wages in the small claims part of the Superior Court Civil Division, where the general limit has been 10000 since June 5, 2023 (12 V.S.A. § 5531).
Other Vermont Final Paycheck Law Rules to Know
Vermont lets the Department of Labor open a wage complaint on its own initiative, not only when a worker files one, and has subpoena power to obtain the employer’s payroll records. Vermont law also bars retaliation against a worker who raises a wage concern or files a claim.
Think your employer owes you money or broke the law?
You do not need a lawyer to file a wage claim: Vermont Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Program takes the complaint for free and can order the employer to pay. If the amount is large or the employer has a history, an employment attorney can take the case — the state bar referral service is the place to start.
Vermont — the bottom line
- The Vermont final paycheck law sets a deadline that runs from your last day: within 72 hours of the discharge if the employer ended the job.
- Under the Vermont final paycheck law, a late check costs the employer — the penalty is the lever that makes a wage claim worth filing.
- The Vermont final paycheck law treats unused vacation as a handbook question; check the policy, then the statute.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is my final paycheck due in Vermont if I was fired?
Under the Vermont final paycheck law, within 72 hours of the discharge.
When is my final paycheck due in Vermont if I quit?
On the last regular payday, or the following Friday if there is no regular payday (21 V.S.A. 342(b)(1))
Does Vermont have to pay out my unused vacation?
Vacation payout follows the employer’s policy.
What happens if a Vermont employer pays the final check late?
A fine under 21 V.S.A. 345 and a civil action for the wages with up to double damages and fees (21 V.S.A. 347)
How do I file a wage claim in Vermont?
Most workers file a wage claim with the Wage and Hour Program at the Vermont Department of Labor, either through the Online Wage Claim Form or on the printable Wage Claim Form sent by mail to 63 Pearl Street, Burlington, VT 05401 or by email to [email protected].
Official Vermont Sources & Resources
- Vermont Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Program: https://labor.vermont.gov/wage-and-hour
- File a Vermont wage claim: https://labor.vermont.gov/wage-and-hour/wage-claims
- Vermont final-pay statute (21 V.S.A. 342(c)): https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/21/005/00342
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This Vermont final paycheck law guide was last verified against official Vermont sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.