If you are a contractor working on a federally funded project, you may be required to submit certified payroll reports to the agency overseeing your contract. Certified payroll reporting is a way of ensuring that you are paying your workers appropriate prevailing wages and following the labor standards set by the federal government. By doing so, you are not only complying with the law but also contributing to a fair and competitive market for public works projects.
In this blog post, we will explain what certified payroll reporting is, how to fill out and submit Form WH-347, and how to avoid common mistakes and penalties. We will also introduce you to Points North Certified Payroll reporting software, a tool that can help you streamline your certified payroll reporting process and save you time and money.
What is Certified Payroll Reporting?
Certified payroll reporting is a special weekly payroll report used by contractors who are working on federally funded projects. It lists details about every worker who worked on the project during the week, such as their name, work classification, hours worked, rate of pay, gross amount earned, deductions taken, and net wages paid. It also includes a statement of compliance, which certifies that you are paying your workers at least the prevailing wages for their work classification and location as determined by the Department of Labor (DOL).
Certified payroll reporting helps ensure that contractors are not underpaying or overpaying their workers or misclassifying them as independent contractors or subcontractors. It also helps prevent wage theft, fraud, discrimination, and other violations of labor standards. According to the DOL, certified payroll reporting protects more than 250 million workers in America.
How to Fill Out Form WH-347
Form WH-347 is the standard form used for certified payroll reporting. It consists of two pages: one for listing the worker information and one for signing the statement of compliance. You can download Form WH-347 from the DOL website or use an electronic version provided by Points North Certified Payroll reporting software.
To fill out Form WH-347, you need to provide the following information:
- Contractor or subcontractor name and address
- Project name and location
- Contract number
- Week ending date
- For each worker:
- Name and last four digits of Social Security number
- Work classification (e.g., electrician, carpenter)
- Hours worked each day (including straight time and overtime)
- Total hours worked during the week
- Rate of pay (including fringe benefits)
- Gross amount earned during the week
- Deductions taken (e.g., taxes) and total deductions
- Net wages paid during the week
You need to fill out Form WH-347 accurately and completely for every week that you work on a federal project. If there are no workers employed on some days during the week or if there are no deductions taken from any worker’s paychecks, you need to indicate that with “None” or “N/A” on Form WH-347.
How to Submit Form WH-347
You need to submit Form WH-347 weekly to the agency overseeing your contract within seven days after each weekly pay period ends. You can submit Form WH-347 electronically through email or fax or mail it in paper form. You should keep copies of all submitted forms for at least three years after completing your contract.
The agency overseeing your contract may have specific requirements or instructions for submitting Form WH-347 so look for any requirements prior to submission.
How to Streamline the Process
Points North Certified Payroll Reporting software also helps you comply with all the federal and state laws and regulations that apply to your project. It supports all 50 states and over 300 localities with their prevailing wage rates and labor standards. It also updates automatically whenever there are any changes in the laws or regulations.
Points North Certified Payroll reporting software is trusted by thousands of contractors across the country who use it to streamline their certified payroll reporting process and avoid any mistakes or penalties.
Certified payroll reporting is a vital part of working on federal projects. It helps ensure that you are paying your workers fairly and following the labor standards set by the government. It also protects you from any legal or financial troubles that may arise from non-compliance.
Conclusion
To do certified payroll reporting properly, you need to fill out and submit Form WH-347 weekly to the agency overseeing your contract. You also need to avoid any common mistakes or violations that may result in fines or penalties. You can use Points North Certified Payroll reporting software to simplify your certified payroll reporting process and ensure compliance with all the requirements.
If you have any questions or comments about certified payroll reporting, schedule time for a brief 15-minute overview. We would love to hear from you and help you with your certified payroll reporting needs.
