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Amount You Owe Back
$0
Months Remaining
0
You Keep
$0
Calculate the prorated repayment owed if you leave before your signing bonus retention period ends.
$0
Months Remaining
0
You Keep
$0
Divide months remaining in the retention period by the total retention period, then multiply by the bonus amount to get the prorated repayment owed, assuming a straight-line proration.
Repayment = Bonus × (Months Remaining ÷ Total Retention Months)
Many employers require repayment of some or all of a signing bonus if an employee leaves before completing an agreed retention period, commonly 12 to 24 months. This is spelled out in the offer letter or a separate repayment agreement, and it's designed to protect the employer's upfront investment in hiring you.
Most clawback agreements prorate the repayment based on how much of the retention period you actually completed, rather than requiring the full amount back regardless of tenure. This calculator uses the common straight-line method: the fraction of the retention period remaining, multiplied by the bonus amount.
This tool assumes a simple straight-line proration and does not account for tax withholding on the original bonus, employer-specific rounding rules, or clawback clauses with cliffs (where no repayment is owed after a certain milestone). Always read your specific agreement, since terms vary significantly between employers.
If you're evaluating a job offer with a signing bonus, ask for the exact clawback terms in writing before accepting. If you're considering leaving a role with an active clawback clause, calculate the repayment amount first, and check your state's wage deduction laws, since some states restrict employers from withholding repayment directly from a final paycheck.
A signing bonus clawback is a contractual provision requiring an employee to repay some or all of a signing bonus if they leave the company before a specified retention period ends, commonly 1-2 years.
Many, but not all, signing bonus agreements prorate the repayment amount based on how much of the retention period was completed. Always check the specific terms in your offer letter or agreement.
Practices vary and are subject to state wage law limits on paycheck deductions. Some employers invoice the departing employee directly rather than withholding from a final check.
Compare a full job offer's value with the Total Compensation Calculator, or plan your next move with the Severance Calculator.
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