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Final Paycheck Laws in Minnesota

In Minnesota, a fired employee's final wages are due within 24 hours of a written demand, an employee who quits must be paid by the next regularly scheduled payday (no later than 20 days), and vacation payout depends on company policy.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Minnesota at a glance

Deadline if fired
Within 24 hours of written demand
Wages are immediately due on discharge upon the employee's demand; the employer is in default if not paid within 24 hours after a written demand.
Deadline if employee quits
Next regular payday (no later than 20 days)
If that payday is less than 5 days after the last day, payment may wait until the second payday, but no more than 20 calendar days.
Accrued vacation paid out
Depends on employer policy
Company policy decides when benefits such as vacation are due; they are payable within 30 days of becoming due.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Minnesota

When is a final paycheck due in Minnesota if the employee is fired or laid off?

Deadline if fired in Minnesota: Within 24 hours of written demand. Wages are immediately due on discharge upon the employee's demand; the employer is in default if not paid within 24 hours after a written demand.

When is a final paycheck due in Minnesota if the employee quits?

Deadline if employee quits in Minnesota: Next regular payday (no later than 20 days). If that payday is less than 5 days after the last day, payment may wait until the second payday, but no more than 20 calendar days.

Does Minnesota law require employers to pay out accrued vacation when a job ends?

Depends on employer policy. Accrued vacation paid out in Minnesota: depends on employer policy. Company policy decides when benefits such as vacation are due; they are payable within 30 days of becoming due.

Where do the Minnesota final paycheck laws come from?

The rules above come from Minn. Stat. 181.13, Minn. Stat. 181.14 and Minn. Stat. 181.74. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Section 181.14 was amended in 2023 (2023 c 53 art 2 s 5).

What this means in practice

Note the exact last day of work and how the job ended, since the deadline often runs from that date and may differ for a firing, a layoff or a resignation. Some statutes also change the deadline when an employee quits without giving notice.

Read the employer's written vacation or paid time off policy and any employment contract. Where state law leaves vacation payout to the employer, the policy terms usually decide whether unused time is paid out or forfeited.

If a final paycheck is late or short, the state labor department usually accepts wage claims, often without a lawyer. Some statutes add penalties for late payment, such as extra daily wages, so keep pay stubs, timesheets and any written communication about the final pay.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.