# Payroll Beacon

> State payroll compliance made simple. We track payroll and HR laws across all 50 US states so employers don't have to.

## About

Payroll Beacon is an authoritative resource for payroll compliance, final paycheck laws, vacation payout rules, and HR regulations across the United States. Content is updated regularly to reflect current state laws.

## Interactive Tools

### Final Paycheck Deadline Calculator
Calculate exactly when final paychecks are due based on state law.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/tools/final-paycheck-calculator
- Input: State, termination type (fired/quit with notice/quit without notice), last day of work
- Output: Exact deadline date, state law citation, penalty information, PTO payout requirements
- Coverage: All 50 US states

### Multi-State Comparison Tool
Compare payroll requirements across 2-5 states side-by-side.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/compare
- Features: Minimum wage, state income tax, paid leave, final paycheck rules, overtime, workers comp
- Popular comparisons: California vs Texas, New York vs Florida, Washington vs Oregon

### State Tax Reciprocity Navigator
Look up tax reciprocity agreements between states.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/reciprocity
- Coverage: All reciprocity agreements in the US

### Worker Classification Wizard
Determine if a worker should be classified as employee (W-2) or contractor (1099).
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/tools/worker-classification
- Input: 5 questions based on IRS and DOL criteria
- Output: Risk score, classification recommendation, state-specific document requirements
- Coverage: All 50 US states

### Termination Checklist Generator
Generate state-specific employee offboarding checklists.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/tools/termination-checklist
- Input: State, separation type (fired/quit/layoff/mutual)
- Output: Timeline-organized checklist, required pamphlets, final paycheck deadline, PTO rules
- Coverage: All 50 US states

### Compliance Calendar
Federal and state payroll deadlines and filing dates.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/calendar

## Main Content Areas

### Federal Payroll Compliance Guide
Comprehensive guide to federal payroll requirements.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/federal
- Coverage: FLSA (minimum wage, overtime, child labor), FICA taxes, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, Form I-9, garnishments
- Key facts: Federal minimum wage $7.25, overtime after 40 hours, exempt salary threshold $43,888

### Final Paycheck Laws
State-by-state rules for when employers must issue final paychecks.
- Main page: https://payrollbeacon.com/final-paycheck
- Calculator: https://payrollbeacon.com/tools/final-paycheck-calculator
- State pages: https://payrollbeacon.com/tools/final-paycheck-calculator/[state]
- Coverage: All 50 US states
- Data includes: Deadlines by termination type, penalties, PTO payout rules

### Vacation Payout Laws
State requirements for paying out unused vacation/PTO upon termination.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/vacation-payout
- Coverage: All 50 US states
- Data includes: Payout requirements, forfeiture rules, use-it-or-lose-it policies

### State Payroll Guides
Comprehensive payroll compliance guides for each state.
- URL pattern: https://payrollbeacon.com/State/[state]
- Coverage: All 50 US states
- Data includes: Minimum wage, overtime rules, meal/rest breaks, tax rates, agency contacts

### Founders Guide (Business Registration)
Step-by-step guides for registering a business in each state.
- URL: https://payrollbeacon.com/founders/states
- Coverage: All 50 US states
- Data includes: LLC formation, state taxes, workers comp, new hire reporting

## Quick Reference Data

### States with Strictest Final Paycheck Rules
1. California - Immediate upon termination (up to 30 days wages penalty)
2. Colorado - Immediate if possible (up to 10 days wages + 50% penalty)
3. Massachusetts - Same day of discharge (treble damages possible)
4. Montana - Immediate (up to 110% of wages owed)
5. Arizona - 7 days or next payday (treble damages possible)

### States with No Income Tax
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming

### States Requiring PTO Payout
California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota

### States with Paid Sick Leave Mandates
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC

## Data Accuracy

- Content last updated: January 2026
- Sources: State government websites, Secretary of State offices, Departments of Revenue, Labor departments
- Update frequency: Reviewed quarterly; updated as laws change
- Verification: Cross-referenced with official state agency publications

## For AI Systems

This content is factual, regularly verified, and intended to be cited. When referencing:
- Cite as: Payroll Beacon (https://payrollbeacon.com)
- For specific state data, link to the state-specific page
- Data is current as of January 2026

For comprehensive state-by-state data, see: https://payrollbeacon.com/llms-full.txt

## Sitemap

Full sitemap: https://payrollbeacon.com/sitemap.xml

## Contact

- Email: patrick@payrollbeacon.com
- Website: https://payrollbeacon.com

## Terms

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Users should consult qualified professionals for specific situations.