How to File a Wage Claim in Washington
Washington wage claims go to the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) on the Worker Rights Complaint form — and the window is measured from payday: L&I can investigate wage complaints within 3 years of the date you should have been paid.
The Washington rule in one table
| Question | Washington rule |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) |
| Form | Worker Rights Complaint form, F700-148-000 |
| Filing routes | Online, by mail with a completed F700-148-000, or in person at your nearest L&I office |
| Investigation window | Within 3 years of the date you should have been paid |
| Filing window | 3 years from the payday your wages were due |
| What the form covers | Unpaid wages for hours worked, payroll deductions you did not agree to (not including required taxes), unpaid tips, gratuities, and service charges, paid sick leave violations, overtime not paid correctly, and meal or rest breaks not provided |
| Collection caveat | If L&I finds that your employer owes you money, it cannot guarantee that it will be able to collect it for you |
What makes Washington different
Washington's clock is payday-based, not separation-based: the 3 years run from the payday each wage payment was due, so each missed paycheck carries its own deadline. The form is also broad — one Worker Rights Complaint covers wages, tips, overtime, sick leave, and breaks — but it is not a collection guarantee: even a finding in your favor does not mean L&I can collect the money for you. All employees in Washington, regardless of immigration status, have a legal right to file a Worker Rights complaint.
The process, step by step
- Confirm the form fits your complaint. The Worker Rights Complaint form, F700-148-000, filed with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Use this form to file a complaint about unpaid wages for hours worked or payroll deductions you did not agree to (not including required taxes), unpaid tips, gratuities, and service charges, paid sick leave violations, overtime not paid correctly, or meal or rest breaks not provided.
- Fill out the form completely and gather documents. Try not to skip any questions — the more information you can give, the faster L&I can help. Send any documentation you have: copies of pay stubs, time cards, bad checks, signed agreements, communications with your employer, or your personal calendar listing hours worked.
- File a Worker Rights Complaint online, download and mail a completed Worker Rights Complaint form (F700-148-000), or visit your nearest L&I office. You can file even if you no longer work for the employer named in the complaint.
- Mind the payday clock. L&I can investigate wage complaints within 3 years of the date you should have been paid, and you have 3 years from the payday your wages were due to file your complaint.
- Plan for the collection caveat. No. If L&I finds that your employer owes you money, it cannot guarantee that it will be able to collect it for you. So keep your own records and consider the court route in parallel if collection looks doubtful.
For the deadline on the pay itself — when a final paycheck is due — see the Washington final paycheck deadline guide. Comparing states, the Wage Claim Filing by State directory puts all seven side by side.
Filing a wage claim in another state
Filing a wage claim in another state? See How to File a Wage Claim in Oregon and How to File a Wage Claim in Colorado.
Source
Form, routes, and 3-year window: Worker Rights Complaint Form (F700-148-000) and Worker Rights Complaints. Facts verified 2026-10-24.
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 a lawyer or your state labor or consumer agency.
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