Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) – Filing

The Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) authorizes aggrieved employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations. Those who intend to pursue PAGA cases must follow the requirements specified in Labor Code Sections 2698 - 2699.5.

PAGA requires that new claim notices, responses, and certain court documents be filed with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). All items being filed with LWDA must be submitted through this website, using the appropriate intake form below. Please read the submission instructions before submitting documents.

Search our data base for existing case number or documents click here.

* Fee required

A filing fee of $75 is required for a new PAGA claim notice and any initial employer response [cure or other response] to a new PAGA claim notice at the time of submission. Parties claiming in forma pauperis status should fill out a Confidential Request to Waive Court Fees (Judicial Council Court Form FW-001) or similar form and submit it online with the notice or response to which it applies.

Filing fees must be paid online via Mastercard or Visa. No other payments will be accepted via Mastercard or Visa. 

* Penalty Payments

Penalty payments must be paid by check, made out to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), and sent by mail to the address indicated below. The check for penalty payments must be accompanied either by a copy of the order or judgment awarding the penalties or by other documentation identifying the court case and parties to which the payment applies.

Please note: The timing of the deposit of settlement checks is governed by the provisions of the State Administrative Manual. This ministerial, administrative act of depositing a settlement check mandated by state procedures should not be construed as nor does it constitute an unconditional, voluntary and/or absolute acceptance of settlement proceeds or approval of the terms of any settlement agreement or judgment related to that check.

Department of Industrial Relations
Accounting Unit
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102

Other Filing Information:

  • Parties are still required to send copies of PAGA claim notices and responses by certified mail to the opposing party (only). It is not necessary to include a copy of the intake form with that mailing.
  • Filing an item with the LWDA through this online system also constitutes filing with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal-OSHA) of any notice or other document required to be filed with that agency pursuant to subdivision (b) of Labor Code Section 2699.3.
  • Filers will receive a confirmation email – sent to the email address provided on the intake form – immediately following successful submission of an item. The confirmation email for a new PAGA claim notice will include an LWDA Case Number that should be used for later submissions.
  • Parties are not required to provide LWDA or DIR with originals or hard copies of items submitted online.

Please see the LWDA’s PAGA website for more information, including a summary of recent changes to PAGA under SB 836 and where to send PAGA penalty payments.

Additional questions about PAGA may also be sent to PAGAinfo@dir.ca.gov.

December 2020