If you win a contract for the government then you must submit a certified payroll report every week to the project’s general contractor, otherwise you are not complying with the Davis-Bacon Act. If you do not submit a certified payroll report, you can be prosecuted even if you are paying your employees the prevailing wage. So, it is very important for you to understand what you need to submit, and this varies for every state.
Learn more about ensuring your certified payroll reporting is compliant with government entities with the following instructions and guidance.

What needs to be submitted in states without individual prevailing wage laws?
In these states, the federal regulations for certified payroll need to be followed. According to these regulations, you need to submit the following items in order to complete your certified payroll report. These items are set out in the federal WH-347 form.
- The name and ID number of every employee who works on site.
- Each employee’s job classification (e.g. carpenter, electrician, etc.).
- The number of hours each employee worked, including overtime.
- Every employee’s rate of pay is based on the prevailing wage, including fringe benefits (or cash paid in lieu of fringe benefits).
- Every employee’s gross amount earned.
- Every employee’s deductions or withholdings.
- Every employee’s net wages paid
States With Prevailing Wage Laws
In states with their own prevailing wage laws, you will have to check for any additional regulations before you submit your certified payroll report. You can also use software that makes following the instructions for certified payroll reporting easier in these states.
What Is a Statement of Compliance?
- The date of the report submitted.
- The name and position of the person submitting the statement.
- The name of the company working on the project.
- The name of the project.
- The date of the beginning work week, “[date] day of [Month], [year].”
- The name of the company working on the project.
- A deduction statement like, “Deductions are based on gross wages and include but are not limited to: Federal Withholding, FICA, Medicare, State Withholding, State Disability Insurance, Union Deductions, Child Support, or Other Garnishments.”
- An indication of how fringe benefits are paid (either in cash or through plans, funds, or other programs).
- Exceptions to indicate any employees who don’t qualify for fringe benefits.
- Any remarks regarding payroll, including the frequency of payroll (submitted on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, for example).
- The name and position of the person submitting the statement.
- The signature of the person submitting the statement.
What is included in the Statement of Compliance?
If you are already using payroll software then you need to make sure that the system of your payroll provider can be integrated with the software you are using. This also includes accounting, attendance, and timing software.
While selecting a payroll provider you need to ensure that you will get the necessary support when needed. You can do this by asking for a dedicated support representative who will later serve as your main point of contact in case of any problems.If you are looking for a quality payroll provider but are struggling to find any then you should consider acquiring the services of Certified Payroll Reporting. We specialize in all aspects of payroll management and we ensure that our clients get the best service experience, which will make following instructions for your certified payroll reporting a breeze. If you have any further queries, contact us anytime.
FAQs
- Every certified payroll report must include specific employee and project data for government compliance. Core items include:
- Employee information:
- Full name and Social Security number
- Complete home address
- Work classification and hourly rate
- Total hours worked (regular and overtime)
- Gross wages earned and net wages paid
- All deductions itemized (taxes, insurance, etc.)
- Project details:
- Contract/project number and location
- Prevailing wage rates for each classification
- Fringe benefit payments (cash or credit)
- Week ending date for the reporting period
- Additional requirements:
- Statement of Compliance with original signature
- Payroll period covered
- Any apprentice workers clearly identified
- Missing any required information can result in report rejection and payment delays for the entire project.
- The Statement of Compliance is a legal declaration that accompanies every certified payroll report. It certifies under penalty of perjury that all information is accurate and complete.
- The statement usually must include legal language stating compliance with prevailing wage laws, confirmation that all employees were paid required wages, declaration that records are accurate and available for inspection, and an original signature with printed name and title of a company official.
- Most states have their own prevailing wage laws with unique reporting requirements beyond federal standards.
- State variations include:
- Different report formats and submission deadlines
- Additional employee information requirements
- Electronic filing through state-specific portals
- Varying wage determination sources
- Different penalty structures for non-compliance
- You can find requirements through state Department of Labor websites, project bid documents and labor standards clauses, electronic filing portals, general contractor specifications, and local government agency requirements.
- Twenty-four states have multiple reporting requirements administered by different agencies. Always verify requirements for each specific project location before beginning work.
- Only authorized company officials can legally sign certified payroll reports. This includes business owners, corporate officers, or individuals with written authorization to act on behalf of the company.
- Signing constitutes a sworn statement under penalty of perjury. False statements can result in:
- Federal charges with fines up to $10,000
- Potential imprisonment up to five years for knowingly false information
- Disqualification from future government contracts