Texas wage claim and final paycheck rules

Short answer

Texas Payday Law sets the final paycheck clock: if you were fired or laid off, full final pay is due within 6 calendar days of your last day; if you quit or retired, it is due on the next regularly scheduled payday. If wages go unpaid, file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission within 180 days of the date the wages were originally due, and TWC counts the day it receives your claim. If only part of the unpaid wages fall inside 180 days, claim that part. Missed the window? A federal claim with the U.S. Department of Labor can reach back 2 years. An employer generally cannot hold your final check over unreturned company property without written authorization or a court order.

Who this is for

Texas workers missing a final paycheck, unpaid wages, commissions, or promised bonuses.

The steps, in order

1. Mark the deadline math: fired or laid off means final pay within 6 calendar days; quitting means the next regular payday.
2. Ask for the wages in writing first and keep a copy with the date.
3. File the TWC wage claim within 180 days of when the wages were due; TWC uses the date it receives the claim, so do not sit on it.
4. Only part inside the window? File for that part anyway.
5. Past 180 days? The U.S. Department of Labor can take claims within 2 years of when wages were owed.
6. If the employer is holding your check over company property, that is only allowed with your written authorization or a court order.

Have this ready

• The dates wages were due and what you were actually paid
• Pay stubs, schedules, or offer letters showing the rate
• Your written demand and the employer's response
• Employer's legal name and address

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting past 180 days. TWC counts the received date, and late claims die on the deadline.
• Skipping the written demand. A dated paper trail strengthens the claim.
• Accepting a held paycheck for unreturned property. Without written authorization or a court order, that deduction is not allowed.
• Assuming quitting forfeits final pay. It is due the next regular payday.

Common questions

When is my final paycheck due in Texas?

If you were fired or laid off, within 6 calendar days of your last day. If you quit, on the next regularly scheduled payday.

How long do I have to file a wage claim?

180 days from the date the wages were originally due, and TWC counts the date it receives your claim. After that window, the U.S. Department of Labor can take claims within 2 years.

Can my employer hold my last check until I return company property?

Not without your written authorization or a court order. The employer's remedy is a separate civil claim, not a wage deduction.

Official source

• Texas Workforce Commission: Texas Payday Law

Checked August 26, 2026. Recheck the official page monthly and when the official page changes.

Related

• Austin small claims court