29 CFR § 1614.408 - Civil action: Equal Pay Act.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t29/s1614.408"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "29 CFR § 1614.408 - Civil action: Equal Pay Act."
title_number: 29
title_name: "Labor"
section_number: "1614.408"
section_name: "Civil action: Equal Pay Act."
chapter_name: "EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION"
part_number: "1614"
part_name: "FEDERAL SECTOR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "29 U.S.C. 206(d), 633a, 791 and 794a; 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16, 2000ff-6(e), and 2000gg-2(e); E.O. 10577, 3 CFR, 1954-1958 Comp., p. 218; E.O. 11222, 3 CFR, 1964-1965 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 11478, 3 CFR, 1969 Comp., p. 133; E.O. 12106, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 263; Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1978, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 321."
regulatory_source: "57 FR 12646, Apr. 10, 1992, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1614"
---


# 1614.408 Civil action: Equal Pay Act.

A complainant is authorized under section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 216(b)) to file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction within two years or, if the violation is willful, three years of the date of the alleged violation of the Equal Pay Act regardless of whether he or she pursued any administrative complaint processing. Recovery of back wages is limited to two years prior to the date of filing suit, or to three years if the violation is deemed willful; liquidated damages in an equal amount may also be awarded. The filing of a complaint or appeal under this part shall not toll the time for filing a civil action.

[57 FR 12646, Apr. 10, 1992. Redesignated at 64 FR 37659, July 12, 1999]