Two federal statutes prohibit gender-based differences in pay, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Title VII also prohibits pay discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. Regulations define who is covered, what constitutes wages, how to compare wages, and when pay differentials are permitted. Some states require pay based on comparable worth. There are strategies an employer may use to avoid gender-based wage discrimination claims.