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Final Paycheck Laws in Virginia

In Virginia, final wages are due on or before the date of the next regular payday whether the employee is fired or quits.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Virginia at a glance

Deadline if fired
Next regular payday
Deadline if employee quits
Next regular payday

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Virginia

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

Deadline if fired in Virginia: Next regular payday.

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

Deadline if employee quits in Virginia: Next regular payday.

Where do the Virginia final paycheck laws come from?

The rules above come from Va. Code 40.1-29(B). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Under a 2026 amendment, in wage actions commenced on or after July 1, 2026, an employer that acted in good faith and cures the violation within 14 days of notice can avoid additional damages and penalties.

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.