Certified payroll
Certified payroll software for general contractors
A straight guide for GCs on certified payroll tools — what they do, which ones lead the market, and where PaperBoss fits as the subcontractor-compliance layer alongside them on public-works jobs.
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Public-works construction runs on certified payroll. Every week on a Davis-Bacon or state prevailing-wage project, the GC has to file a WH-347 (or state equivalent) showing every worker, their classification, their hours, and proof they were paid at the prevailing wage. Certified payroll software exists to automate that filing — pulling wage determinations, applying classifications, computing fringe, and producing compliance-ready reports. PaperBoss isn\u2019t certified payroll software. PaperBoss handles the document-compliance side — subcontractor COIs, W-9s, and WC exemptions — that runs alongside your payroll reporting. This page exists to help GCs evaluate both sides of the public-works compliance stack.
What certified payroll software does
Automates weekly WH-347 generation, applies DOL wage determinations by classification, tracks fringe benefits, and outputs reports in the formats state and federal agencies require. The best tools integrate directly with your existing payroll provider.
Who the leading vendors are
eBacon, LCPtracker, Foundation Software, Sage 100 Contractor, and Viewpoint Spectrum dominate the market. eBacon and LCPtracker are certified-payroll specialists; Foundation/Sage/Viewpoint bundle it into broader construction ERP suites.
What certified payroll software doesn’t do
None of these tools track subcontractor Certificates of Insurance, W-9s, or Workers’ Comp exemptions. On a public-works project, the GC still has to collect and renew that paperwork separately — and missing a COI on a federal job is as disqualifying as missing a certified payroll filing.
Where PaperBoss fits
PaperBoss is the subcontractor-compliance layer alongside your certified payroll tool. Sub uploads their COI, W-9, and WC exemption via a secure link; PaperBoss tracks expirations and reminds them to renew. Pair it with eBacon (or whichever certified payroll tool you use) for full public-works compliance coverage.
The Davis-Bacon penalty is real
Underpaying prevailing wage, misclassifying a worker, or filing a false WH-347 can trigger back-pay liability, contract termination, and up to three years of debarment from public work. Certified payroll software exists to prevent that — but it only covers the payroll side.
How it works
Pull the wage determination
Before the job starts, download the DOL wage determination for your county and project type. This sets the prevailing rate for every classification on site.
Set up payroll classifications
Load worker classifications and rates into your certified payroll tool (eBacon, LCPtracker, etc.) and link them to the correct wage determination.
Collect subcontractor compliance docs
Before any sub steps on site, collect their COI (with Additional Insured), W-9, and WC documentation. This is where PaperBoss handles the heavy lifting.
Run weekly certified payroll
Each week, your tool generates WH-347, signed under penalty of perjury by an officer, and files it with the contracting agency. Typical cadence: every Friday for the prior week.
Renew COIs and wage determinations
Wage determinations can update mid-project. COIs expire on 12-month cycles. Both need active tracking — payroll software handles the wage side; PaperBoss handles the COI/W-9 side.
Frequently asked questions
What is certified payroll software?
Certified payroll software automates the weekly payroll reporting required on Davis-Bacon and state prevailing-wage projects. It pulls DOL wage determinations, applies them to worker classifications, computes fringe benefits, and generates compliance-ready WH-347 reports (or state equivalents) for filing with the contracting agency.
Is PaperBoss certified payroll software?
No. PaperBoss handles subcontractor compliance documents — Certificates of Insurance, W-9s, and Workers’ Comp exemptions. On a public-works project, certified payroll software and compliance-document tracking are separate but complementary tools. Most GCs use PaperBoss alongside a payroll tool like eBacon, LCPtracker, or Foundation.
Which certified payroll software do most GCs use?
Specialists: eBacon and LCPtracker lead the standalone certified-payroll market. ERP-bundled: Foundation Software, Sage 100 Contractor, and Viewpoint Spectrum include certified payroll as part of a broader construction accounting suite. Smaller GCs often use their existing payroll provider plus a spreadsheet for WH-347 until volume justifies dedicated software.
What’s the penalty for getting certified payroll wrong?
Federal Davis-Bacon violations can trigger back-pay liability, contract termination, and debarment from federal contracting for up to three years. Filing a false WH-347 is a federal crime. State prevailing-wage laws (California, New York, and others) impose similar penalties. This is why certified payroll software exists.
Do I need certified payroll software if my sub runs its own payroll?
Yes. On federal public-works projects, every prime and subcontractor must submit their own certified payroll. The GC is responsible for collecting subs’ WH-347 filings and verifying compliance. PaperBoss doesn’t generate subs’ certified payroll for them, but it does track the compliance documents (COI, W-9, WC) you need from every sub on the job.
Where can I read more about certified payroll and Davis-Bacon?
We wrote a full GC-focused guide to certified payroll, WH-347, and Davis-Bacon at /blog/certified-payroll-prevailing-wage-gcs. It covers the process end-to-end: wage determinations, classifications, fringe benefits, and the penalty framework.
Handle the compliance-document side of public-works jobs.
Pair PaperBoss with your certified payroll tool. Every sub\u2019s COI, W-9, and WC exemption tracked automatically — so the only paperwork you\u2019re filing manually is the WH-347.
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