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Certified payroll (WH-347): what goes in and how often

Certified payroll

By the Public Works Desk Team · Last verified · How we check every number · Corrections

Source: 29 CFR 5.5 Contract provisions and related matters. (eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10)

Each week you submit a copy of the payroll for the previous payroll period with a signed Statement of Compliance.

Form WH-347 is optional: any format with the same information works.

Weekly transmittals carry an identifying number (such as the last four SSN digits), not full SSNs.

Keep payroll records at least 3 years after the prime contract work is completed.

  • Official text quoted word for word
  • eCFR as of 2026-11-10
A compliance reviewer checks a contractor's weekly payroll form line by line with a ruler, comparing it with a second sheet, in a city hall office above a street under reconstruction.

What the rule says

“will be paid unconditionally and not less often than once a week”

29 CFR 5.5 Contract provisions and related matters. · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10

“each week must provide a copy of its weekly payroll for all laborers and mechanics engaged on work

covered by this part and part 5 of this chapter during the preceding weekly payroll period,

accompanied by a statement of compliance certifying the accuracy of the weekly payroll information.”

29 CFR 3.3 Certified payrolls. · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10

“The prime contractor is responsible for the submission of all certified payrolls by all

subcontractors.”

29 CFR 5.5 Contract provisions and related matters. · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10

“The required weekly certified payroll information may be submitted using Optional Form WH-347 or

in any other format desired.”

29 CFR 5.5 Contract provisions and related matters. · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10

“full Social Security numbers and last known addresses, telephone numbers,

and email addresses must not be included on weekly transmittals.”

29 CFR 5.5 Contract provisions and related matters. · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10

“for a period of at least 3 years after all the work on the prime contract is completed.”

29 CFR 5.5 Contract provisions and related matters. · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10

Step by step

  1. Pay weekly, report weeklyWorkers are paid at least once a week; the payroll covers the preceding weekly period for every laborer and mechanic on the covered work.
  2. Per workerIdentifying number, classification actually worked, hourly rate, fringe paid (plan and cash), daily and weekly hours, deductions, net pay.
  3. Sign the Statement of ComplianceSigned by the contractor or the person who pays or supervises payment of wages.
  4. Send it up the chainSubcontractors send to the prime; the prime is responsible for submitting every subcontractor's certified payroll to the agency (or to the owner or sponsor that keeps the records).
  5. Keep the full recordsFull SSN, address, phone and email stay in your basic records for at least 3 years.

Worked example: one payroll line (45-hour week) — Electrician, Travis County TX (TX20260271 mod 1)

40 straight-time hours × $36.50$1,460.00
5 overtime hours × $54.75 (1.5 × $36.50, to the cent)$273.75
45 hours × fringe $10.69 (straight time)$481.05
Gross owed for the week$2,214.80

Base $36.50, fringe $10.69 from TX20260271 mod 1.

Common mistakes
  • Sending full Social Security numbers on weekly transmittals.
  • Reporting the classification on the badge instead of the work actually performed.
On state-funded jobs. States add their own filing on top of the weekly WH-347: California every 30 days through DIR eCPR, Illinois monthly by the 15th, Maryland within 14 days of each payroll period ($10 a day late), Massachusetts weekly. Each rule is on its state page.
Limits. This guide — Certified payroll (WH-347): what goes in and how often — quotes the federal rule from the sources below. It is not a substitute for the wage determination or the clause in your contract. State law can be stricter; see the note on state-funded jobs. Worked examples and calculator defaults use the wage determination named on the page, as of the date shown there.

Related

Sources