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Final Paycheck Demand Letter — Colorado

In Colorado, your final paycheck is due immediately if you are fired or laid off (or within 6 hours if your on-site payroll office is closed, 24 hours if it’s off-site); by your next regular payday if you quit. Below is a ready-to-edit demand letter, with Colorado’s deadline and penalty already filled in — customize it with your amount owed, then send it to your former employer.

Colorado at a glance

  • Deadline: final wages are due immediately if you are fired or laid off (or within 6 hours if your on-site payroll office is closed, 24 hours if it’s off-site); by your next regular payday if you quit.
  • Penalty for missing it: 200% of the wages owed or $1,000, whichever is greater — 300% or $3,000 if the violation is willful.
  • This penalty only kicks in if your employer doesn't pay within 14 days of receiving a written demand for wages — sending that demand is what starts the clock.
  • Where to escalate: Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (CDLE).
  • How to send it: many people mail a wage demand by USPS Certified Mail with return receipt so they have dated proof the employer received it.

Final Paycheck Demand Letter

Copy the letter below into the editor, replace the text in [brackets] with your details, and PostPal will print and mail it for you.

Subject: Demand for Payment of Final Wages
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Colorado ZIP Code]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]

[Date]

[Employer Name]
[Employer Address]
[City, Colorado ZIP Code]

RE: DEMAND FOR PAYMENT OF FINAL WAGES

Dear [Employer Name / HR Manager],

I am writing to formally demand payment of my final wages, which remain unpaid following the end of my employment with [Employer Name] on [Last Date of Employment]. I [was terminated / was laid off / resigned] on that date, and I have not yet received my final paycheck.

AMOUNT OWED:
• Unpaid final wages: $[Amount]
• Other amounts owed (accrued vacation, commissions, etc., if applicable): $[Amount]
• Total amount owed: $[Total Amount]

Please be advised that this letter is a written demand for wages under Colorado Wage Act (C.R.S. § 8-4-109). If I do not receive full payment within 14 days of your receipt of this demand, I am entitled to a statutory penalty of 200% of the unpaid wages or $1,000, whichever is greater (300% or $3,000 if the violation is willful), in addition to the wages owed.

I would prefer to resolve this matter directly and promptly. Please send payment to the address above, or contact me to arrange payment, by [deadline date].

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

What your final paycheck demand letter must include

  • Your full name, address, and the employer’s name and address
  • Your last day of employment and whether you were fired, laid off, or resigned
  • The exact amount you are owed — final wages, and any earned commissions or accrued vacation pay your employer’s policy requires be paid out
  • The date your final pay was legally due (immediately if fired or laid off, or by your next regular payday if you quit)
  • A firm deadline for payment, and where/how it should be sent
  • A clear statement that this is a written demand for wages under Colorado Wage Act — it starts the 14 days clock for the statutory penalty

Frequently asked questions

When was my final paycheck legally due in Colorado?

Immediately if you are fired or laid off (or within 6 hours if your on-site payroll office is closed, 24 hours if it’s off-site); by your next regular payday if you quit. If that date has passed and you still haven’t been paid, you have grounds to send a formal written demand.

What happens if my employer still doesn't pay after I send this letter?

You can file a complaint with the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (CDLE). Because Colorado law ties the statutory penalty (200% of the unpaid wages or $1,000, whichever is greater (300% or $3,000 if the violation is willful)) to a written demand like this one, sending it first is what unlocks that penalty if your employer still doesn’t pay within 14 days.

Do I need to use an official form to send this demand?

No. Colorado’s labor department (CDLE) offers an optional demand form, but its own guidance confirms employees can write their own letter — there is no requirement to use the state form.

Should I send my demand by certified mail?

It is highly recommended. Certified mail with return receipt gives you a dated record that your employer received your demand — useful evidence if you later file a wage claim. PostPal prints and mails your letter for you; keep your own proof of mailing if certified delivery matters for your claim.

More final paycheck demand letter templates for other states

Facts verified against official sources on September 2, 2026: cdle.colorado.gov, law.justia.com.

This template is provided for convenience only. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Court limits and rules change — confirm anything time-sensitive on the official page, and consult a qualified legal professional for advice specific to your situation.