How to use the PTO carryover and expiry calculator
Enter the date your PTO year started, the days granted and used, and the expiration window written in your policy. The calculator returns the last day you can take the time off, how long is left, the unused balance and what that balance is worth at your daily pay rate.
Legal basis (as of September 2026) — There is no federal paid vacation entitlement. The Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 201 and following) does not require paid leave, and 29 C.F.R. 778.218 simply treats vacation pay as excludable from the regular rate. Carryover and expiration therefore come from the employer policy, limited by state wage law such as California Labor Code 227.3 and the wage payment statutes of Montana and Nebraska, which generally treat accrued vacation as earned wages.
Korea works from a statute instead: the Labor Standards Act grants a fixed number of annual leave days that lapse after one year unless the employer follows a formal use-promotion procedure. United States employees have no such statutory grant, so the written policy and the state rule decide whether a balance can disappear at year end.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. State treatment of accrued vacation changes, so confirm your balance with your employer handbook and your state labor agency, and consult a licensed employment attorney about a disputed payout.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require paid vacation or personal leave, so accrual, carryover and expiration come from your employer policy and from state wage law.
No. California (Lab. Code 227.3), Montana and Nebraska generally treat accrued vacation as earned wages that cannot simply be forfeited, although reasonable accrual caps may be allowed. Other states commonly permit a written expiration policy.
It depends on your state and your employer policy. In states that treat accrued vacation as wages, unused balances are usually payable at separation. Elsewhere the written policy controls, so check it before you resign.