We talk about public projects all the time – typically payment bonds or prevailing wages. When discussing federal projects (and, specifically, prevailing wages), it’s important to also discuss a related topic: certified payroll. This topic can be heavy and there are a lot of in’s and out’s. Consider this an introduction to the subject – let’s look at the basics. What Is a Certified Payroll Let’s actually take a step back, first. Why are payroll’s even being “certified”?  Federal construction projects have more rules than commercial projects, plain and simple. Of these rules, the ones surrounding payment are some of the most important. Under the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subs on federal jobs must pay workers at least the local prevailing wage rate. If payments aren’t made as required, there are consequences. But, how can you even be sure who’s following the rules and who isn’t? That’s where a certified payroll comes in. For a payroll report to be certified, it must include certain information (more on that below) as well as a Statement of Compliance. The goal is to keep track of everything affecting payment on the job site. The certified payroll report is submitted weekly to whatever government agency is tracking the public project. The WH-347 form will fulfill all certified […] read more