How to File a Wage Claim in Arizona
Arizona's unpaid-wage claims go to the Industrial Commission's Labor Department on the Unpaid Wage Claim Form, within one year of accrual, capped at $12,000. The form does not cover minimum wage, earned paid sick time, or retaliation — and it does not cover overtime at all. Claims over the cap go to the federal Wage and Hour Division or to court.
The Arizona claim in one table
| Item | Arizona rule |
|---|---|
| Agency | Arizona Industrial Commission, Labor Department |
| Form | Unpaid Wage Claim Form |
| Covers | Unpaid wages, bonuses, vacation pay, mileage, NSF checks, unauthorized deductions |
| Does not cover | Minimum wage, earned paid sick time, retaliation; no overtime on this form |
| Deadline | 1 year from accrual; older claims dismissed |
| Cap | $12,000.00 — over the cap goes to the WHD or a civil claim |
| Filing channels | Electronic form, email, fax, mail |
| Confidentiality | Not confidential — the claim and evidence are sent to the employer |
| Dismissal triggers | Civil lawsuit filed, or employer bankruptcy |
The claim, step by step
- Use the employer's legal name. Take it from a pay stub or tax form, not the storefront name. A claim against the wrong legal entity stalls before it starts.
- Complete, sign, and date the form. Electronic signatures are accepted. Attach copies of the evidence only — no originals.
- Submit through one channel. Electronically through the form, by email to Laborinv@azica.gov, by fax to (602) 542-8097, or by mail to the Labor Department, P.O. Box 19070, Phoenix, AZ 85005-9070.
- Expect the employer to see it. The claim and the evidence are sent to the employer, and the claim is not confidential. File on that understanding.
- Know the two dismissal triggers. If a civil lawsuit has been filed on the same wages, or the employer is in bankruptcy, the claim is dismissed. Choose the route — agency or court — before filing, not after.
Offices
Phoenix: 800 West Washington Street, (602) 542-4661. Tucson: 2675 East Broadway Boulevard, (520) 628-5188. The Industrial Commission's labor-claims page is the source for the form, the channels, and the coverage limits stated here.
The $12,000 cap, and the conflict not carried
The Industrial Commission's page states the cap as $12,000.00. Secondary sources cite a $5,000 cap. This guide carries the Commission's figure only and does not carry the $5,000 figure — the agency page is the primary source, and the conflict is recorded here rather than averaged. A claim over $12,000 goes to the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or to a civil claim; do not split a claim to fit the cap without advice, because the split itself can change the claim.
For other states, see the Wage Claim Filing by State directory. For Arizona final-pay timing, see Final Paycheck Deadline in Arizona.
Source
Sources: Arizona Industrial Commission, Labor Claims for Unpaid Wages (form coverage and exclusions, legal-name rule, signature and copies rules, four channels, $12,000 cap, one-year deadline, dismissal triggers, non-confidentiality, office addresses and phones), read 2026-11-01. Facts verified 2026-11-01. Open flags: the $5,000 cap in secondary sources conflicts with the Commission's $12,000 figure and is not carried; no overtime route is stated on the Commission page beyond the referral to the WHD.
This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to your state labor agency or a lawyer.
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