Target Final Paycheck Laws

You turned in your red shirt last Friday. Maybe you gave two weeks’ notice, maybe you walked out mid-shift, or maybe your team lead handed you a separation notice you didn’t see coming. Whatever happened, one question matters right now: when does Target owe you your last paycheck?

The answer branches depending on your specific situation. Use the sections below to find yours.

Scenario A: You Quit Target With Notice

If you gave your store at least some advance notice before your final day, most states require Target to pay you by the next regular payday. Target pays biweekly, so that means up to 14 days after your last shift.

A few states move faster. In California, if you gave at least 72 hours’ notice, Target must pay you on your last working day. No exceptions. In Colorado, the final check comes on the next payday. In Massachusetts, the next payday rule also applies, but if Target misses it, penalties kick in quickly.

Where to check: Log into Workday at wd5.myworkday.com/target using your TEID. Go to the Pay section and look for your final pay statement. If you set up electronic pay stubs before leaving, they should appear here even after separation. You can also use Paperless Employee at paperlessemployee.com/target, which stays accessible to former team members.

Scenario B: You Quit Target Without Notice (Walked Out)

Walking out or quitting without notice doesn’t forfeit your right to a final paycheck. Target still owes you for every hour worked.

The timing difference matters in states like California: quitting without 72 hours’ notice means Target has 72 hours from your resignation to issue the final check, rather than paying on your last day. In most other states, the next regular payday rule applies regardless of notice.

If you abandoned your shifts and Target coded it as a voluntary resignation, you’ll still get paid. If they coded it as a no-call/no-show termination, the state rules for involuntary termination may apply instead (see Scenario C).

Scenario C: Target Fired You

Involuntary termination triggers different (and often faster) deadlines in many states.

Regardless of why Target let you go, they cannot withhold your paycheck as a bargaining chip, make you sign paperwork before releasing it, or deduct anything you didn’t authorize in writing. If someone at your store tells you otherwise, they’re wrong.

Scenario D: You Were a Seasonal Team Member

Target hires tens of thousands of seasonal workers during Q4. If your assignment ended and you weren’t converted to a regular position, Target still owes you a final paycheck on the same schedule as any other separated employee. Seasonal status doesn’t create a different legal category for final pay.

Many seasonal workers have trouble accessing pay portals after their credentials expire. Paperless Employee (paperlessemployee.com/target) is the most reliable option here. Create an account while you still have your TEID if you haven’t already.

Does Target Pay Out Unused PTO?

Target’s PTO payout on separation depends on your state. In states that treat accrued vacation as earned wages (California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, and others), Target must include unused PTO in your final check.

In states without mandatory payout laws, Target follows its own policy. Full-time hourly team members accrue roughly 60 hours per year, and Target has historically paid out accrued vacation in most states. Sick time is generally not paid out.

For details on how Target’s PTO accrues and what counts as paid versus unpaid time, see the Target PTO policies guide.

How to Track Down a Missing Final Paycheck

If Target’s deadline in your state has passed and you haven’t received payment:

Step 1: Check Workday and Paperless Employee. Confirm whether the pay was processed at all.

Step 2: Call Target HR at 1-800-394-1885. Have your TEID and date of separation ready. Ask specifically about the status of your final paycheck and whether it was sent via direct deposit or paper check.

Step 3: If the check was mailed and you’ve moved, you’ll need to update your address through HR. Target mails W-2s and final checks to the address in Workday.

Step 4: If HR can’t resolve it or you’re past the legal deadline, file a wage claim with your state’s labor department. Most states have online filing. In California, you can file through the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), and the waiting time penalties alone can add up to 30 days of pay.

What Happens to Your DailyPay Balance?

If you were using DailyPay (Target’s earned wage access program), any wages you already drew won’t appear on your final check since they were advanced to you. Your final paycheck will reflect the remaining balance after DailyPay advances and standard deductions.

Any discrepancy between what DailyPay shows and what your final stub says means you should contact both DailyPay support and Target HR. The two systems don’t always sync perfectly on the last pay cycle.

Illegal Deductions to Watch For

Target cannot deduct from your final paycheck for register shortages, missing merchandise, damaged equipment, or uniform costs unless you signed a specific, separate written authorization (not buried in your onboarding paperwork). Most states restrict or outright ban these deductions.

Compare your final pay stub line by line against a previous one. Anything new should be questioned.

For information on what happens to your health insurance, 401(k), and team member discount after leaving Target, visit our Target benefits after termination page. And if you’re navigating the resignation process itself, the Target quitting process guide covers every step.

Find all Target employee resources at the Target employee hub.