For specific federal building projects, certified payroll software streamlines record-keeping. The WH-347 form required by the United States Department of Labor isn’t particularly complicated. This form must be filled out by contractors working on federal or federally supported projects. The problem is that federal regulations need specific formats for preserving records and providing wages and benefits. Some businesses are dissuaded from submitting bids for work because of the documentation requirements.
What’s required is a weekly report detailing employee pay for the previous week. Each worker on the project needs to fill out the form. The payroll must then be “certified” by an authorized company representative. All compensation and benefits must adhere to legal standards. Each worker, then, must be compensated in accordance with the standards of their profession or skill set. Contractors and subcontractors are obligated under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts to pay wages and fringe benefits at least equivalent to the rate established by the Department of Labor.
Each week, a new form is submitted for a different project. The names of all staff members who spent any time on the project that week are listed. The employee’s tool of choice follows. Employee compensation and benefits are broken down in detail. Wage and benefit summaries are then presented. The final step is for a company official to sign off on the paycheck. This is what the “certified” refers to. It has been verified as an accurate representation of funds disbursed.
It has nothing to do with the form itself. The problem is that it’s difficult to maintain track of the data needed to fill out the form. In addition, it is important to verify that the compensation and benefits are in conformity with regulations. In order to maintain this level of precision and freshness, specialized software is required. Make sure the software you select is compatible with other financial applications. Avoid the hassle of having to re-enter the information if at all possible. Most apps are compatible with popular accounting packages like QuickBooks. Do your research before making any purchases.
Keep yourself apprised of any adjustments made to the standards. Wage rates and other forms of compensation may be modified. How frequently and how easily are updates released for the software being considered? There will inevitably be alterations and modifications, so familiarize yourself with the system’s process for dealing with them. Finally, keep in mind that you must also comply with state payroll regulations. The outputs from the payroll software must also conform to the various state regulations.
Payroll accounting might be difficult, but it’s crucial for any organization. Because of the stringent criteria for certified payrolls, meticulous record-keeping is essential. The certified payroll criteria aren’t difficult to meet. Payroll processing software must be interoperable with other accounting systems, and records must be in the right format. The correct software may make keeping payroll records and meeting regulatory requirements a breeze.
