Idaho · wage-claim penalty · Idaho Code § 45-607
Idaho wage-claim penalty (15 days, $750 / $500)
Idaho Code § 45-607: missed final pay due under § 45-606 → wages continue at the last-employed daily rate for min(calendar days late, 15). Caps $750, or $500 if paid in full before a § 45-620 lien. Classic: 15 days @ $20×8h = $2,400 raw → $750 (CA LC 203 → $2,400; OR 15d unpaid $400 no notice → $400). Not CA LC 203. Not ORS 652.150.
What this page computes
Enter last day worked, paid date (or as-of if still unpaid), hourly rate, usual daily hours as last employed, and the lien / refused-tender toggles. The ticket shows last-employed daily rate × calendar days late (max 15), the $750 or $500 cap, and the payable penalty. Not a weekly punch OT calculator.
How § 45-607 pays
§ 45-606: on layoff or termination pay or make available all wages then due by the earlier of the next regularly scheduled payday or within ten days, weekends and holidays excluded. A written request for earlier payment is due within 48 hours of the request, weekends and holidays excluded (this page: +2 business days).
§ 45-607: if that deadline is missed, wages continue at the same rate as if services had been rendered in the manner as last employed until paid in full or for fifteen days, whichever is less. Maximum penalty $750; $500 if the full wages are paid before a § 45-620 lien. An employee who secretes or absents to avoid payment, or refuses a tender, takes no penalty. No willfulness gate (unlike CA LC 203 / ORS 652.150).
In scope
- Missed § 45-606 final-pay deadline → § 45-607 continuing wages
- Last-employed daily rate (hourly × usual daily hours)
- 15 calendar-day maximum; $750 / $500 dollar caps
- Due: earlier of next payday or +10 business days; written request +2 business days
- Refused tender / secreted to avoid payment → $0
Out of scope
- California LC 203 usual-day waiting-time penalty (separate page)
- Oregon ORS 652.150 8-hour / 100%-cap penalty wages (separate page)
- § 45-615 treble damages after a wage claim / court judgment
- Idaho minimum-wage overtime (FLSA weekly 40)
Classic statutory contrast
15 calendar days late @ $20/h, last-employed 8h day → 15 × $160 = $2,400 raw, capped at $750.
Same, wages paid in full before a § 45-620 lien → $500.
3 days late @ $20×8h → $480 (under the $750 cap).
Same 15 days on /california-waiting-time-penalty/ → $2,400 (no dollar cap).
Same 15 days on /oregon-waiting-time-penalty/ with $400 unpaid and no written notice → $400 (100% unpaid cap).
Sources
- Idaho Code § 45-607 — Penalty for failure to pay (Idaho Legislature, HTTP 200)
- Idaho Code § 45-606 — Payment of wages upon separation (next payday or 10 days; 48h written request)
- Idaho Department of Labor — Idaho Labor Laws (HTTP 200)
- Idaho Code § 45-607 (Justia, HTTP 200)
Related
CA waiting-time penalty (LC 203) · OR penalty wages (ORS 652.150) · Nevada overtime (NRS 608.018)
Is the daily unit always 8 hours?
No. Idaho continues wages “as if services had been rendered in the manner as last employed.” A 10-hour last-employed day at $20 is $200/day here. Oregon is always eight hours. California uses the usual day’s wages, including regularly scheduled overtime.
When does the $500 cap apply instead of $750?
When the full amount of the wages is paid before the employee files a wage lien under § 45-620. Paying after a lien (or never paying) keeps the $750 ceiling.
Same as California or Oregon waiting-time?
No. LC 203 is 30 usual-day units with no dollar cap. ORS 652.150 is always 8h × 30 with a 100% unpaid-wages cap. Idaho is 15 days + $750/$500.