The Ohio final paycheck law sets the deadline for your final paycheck: next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) if your employer ended the job, and same semimonthly schedule: by the 1st or the 15th,
whichever regular payday comes first for the pay period if you quit.
This guide gives the exact Ohio 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 Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration or an attorney before you rely on it.
Ohio Final Paycheck Law at a Glance
| If you were fired | Next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) |
| If you quit | Same semimonthly schedule: by the 1st or the 15th, whichever regular payday comes first for the pay period |
| If you were laid off | Next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) |
| Statute | Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15 |
| Penalty for a late check | If wages stay unpaid 30 days past the regular payday with no genuine dispute, liquidated damages of 6% of the amount or $200, whichever is greater (4113.15(B)) |
| Unused vacation owed? | Only if the employer’s policy provides it |
| Where to file a wage claim | Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration |
In This Ohio Final Paycheck Law Guide:
The Ohio Final Paycheck Law Deadline
If the employer fires you or lays you off, the Ohio final paycheck law sets the due date like this: next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) (Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15).
Earned commissions and bonuses that are due under your plan are wages and belong in the final check once they can be calculated.
Enter your last day and how the job ended, and get the exact Ohio due date, the statute and the penalty if it is late.
Ohio Final Paycheck Law at a Glance
Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Deadline if fired | Next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) |
| Deadline if quit | Same semimonthly schedule: by the 1st or the 15th, whichever regular payday comes first for the pay period |
| Deadline if laid off | Next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) |
| Statute | Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15 |
| Late-payment penalty | If wages stay unpaid 30 days past the regular payday with no genuine dispute, liquidated damages of 6% of the amount or $200, whichever is greater (4113.15(B)) |
| Unused vacation / PTO | Only if the employer’s policy provides it |
| PTO rule | The statute counts vacation pay as a fringe benefit only when an agreement or policy promises it; the written policy controls the payout. |
| Deductions allowed | Ohio’s wage-payment statute generally allows only deductions that the law requires or that the worker authorized in writing. Deductions the worker did not authorize are one of the problems the Bureau investigates. |
| Wage-claim agency | Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration |
| File a wage claim | https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/bureau-of-wage-and-hour-administration/wage-and-hour-complaints |
Ohio Final Paycheck Law If You Quit
If you quit, the Ohio final paycheck law rule is: same semimonthly schedule: by the 1st or the 15th, whichever regular payday comes first for the pay period. Severance is separate from the final paycheck: the final check is wages you already earned and must be paid on the deadline; severance is extra pay the employer offers, usually in exchange for a release, and no state requires 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 Ohio Final Paycheck Law
The statute counts vacation pay as a fringe benefit only when an agreement or policy promises it; the written policy controls the payout. Read the handbook section on vacation before you argue the point — the policy wording decides it.
What the Ohio Final Paycheck Law Does If the Check Is Late
The penalty is the lever: if wages stay unpaid 30 days past the regular payday with no genuine dispute, liquidated damages of 6% of the amount or $200, whichever is greater (4113.15(B)). An employer may not hold a final check to force the return of equipment or to settle a dispute; those are separate claims.
What Can Be Deducted From a Final Check in Ohio
Ohio’s wage-payment statute generally allows only deductions that the law requires or that the worker authorized in writing. Deductions the worker did not authorize are one of the problems the Bureau investigates. Rules on specific items such as unreturned equipment, cash shortages, loans or uniforms could not be verified from an official source, so confirm them with the Bureau.
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How to File a Wage Claim Under the Ohio Final Paycheck Law
An Ohio worker can file a complaint with the Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration, part of the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Industrial Compliance. Complaints go through the Bureau’s online complaint portal, and the investigators at the Reynoldsburg office can be reached at 614-644-2239.
The portal lists held last paychecks and unauthorized deductions among the problems it investigates, so it helps to have your pay stubs, hours records and termination date ready. Confirm the filing deadline with the Bureau, because it could not be verified from an official source.
An investigator reviews the complaint and contacts the employer about the unpaid wages. The Bureau’s complaint page says it can only pursue minimum wage for the hours it finds were unpaid, and that a worker cannot pursue the same complaint through the state and privately at the same time. Ask the investigator which option fits your situation before you file.
Ohio workers may generally sue for unpaid wages in the small claims division of their local municipal or county court. The limit is 6000, not counting interest and court costs (R.C. 1925.02(A)(1)). Check with your local court clerk about filing fees.
Other Ohio Final Paycheck Law Rules to Know
Under Ohio’s Pay Stub Protection Act (House Bill 106), each pay statement must show itemized deductions and net pay. If the employer does not provide this after the worker asks, the worker may file a complaint with the Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration after 10 business days.
Think your employer owes you money or broke the law?
You do not need a lawyer to file a wage claim: Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration 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.
Ohio — the bottom line
- The Ohio final paycheck law sets a deadline that runs from your last day: next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline) if the employer ended the job.
- Under the Ohio final paycheck law, a late check costs the employer — the penalty is the lever that makes a wage claim worth filing.
- The Ohio 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 Ohio if I was fired?
Under the Ohio final paycheck law, next regular payday on the semimonthly schedule: wages for the 1st-15th are due by the 1st of the next month, and wages for the 16th-end by the 15th (no separate final-check deadline).
When is my final paycheck due in Ohio if I quit?
Same semimonthly schedule: by the 1st or the 15th, whichever regular payday comes first for the pay period
Does Ohio have to pay out my unused vacation?
The statute counts vacation pay as a fringe benefit only when an agreement or policy promises it; the written policy controls the payout.
What happens if an Ohio employer pays the final check late?
If wages stay unpaid 30 days past the regular payday with no genuine dispute, liquidated damages of 6% of the amount or $200, whichever is greater (4113.15(B))
How do I file a wage claim in Ohio?
An Ohio worker can file a complaint with the Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration, part of the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Industrial Compliance. Complaints go through the Bureau’s online complaint portal, and the investigators at the Reynoldsburg office can be reached at 614-644-2239.
Official Ohio Sources & Resources
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/bureau-of-wage-and-hour-administration
- File an Ohio wage claim: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/bureau-of-wage-and-hour-administration/wage-and-hour-complaints
- Ohio final-pay statute (Ohio Rev. Code 4113.15): https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4113.15
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This Ohio final paycheck law guide was last verified against official Ohio sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Ohio Workplace Rights Guides
- Ohio Non Compete Law: Is Yours Enforceable?
- Ohio Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Ohio Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
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.