Updated September 4, 2026 · Federal certified payroll (Davis-Bacon / Copeland Act)

The old WH-347 form stops being valid on September 30, 2026

If your certified payroll process still uses a pre-2025 WH-347 template — a saved PDF, an old Excel version, or a payroll system that hasn't updated its export — it becomes invalid for federal Davis-Bacon reporting starting October 1, 2026. Here's what changed and what to check before then.

What actually changed

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a revised WH-347 (Rev. January 2025). The revised form carries OMB Control No. 1235-0008 and is approved through January 31, 2028. The version it replaces — the one most contractors have used for years — carries an expiration date of September 30, 2026 printed on the form itself. Once that date passes, the older version is no longer a valid federal form for weekly certified payroll and compliance statement submissions on Davis-Bacon and Related Acts covered projects.

Who this affects

• Prime contractors and subcontractors on any federally funded or federally assisted construction contract subject to Davis-Bacon labor standards.
• Bookkeepers and back-office staff who prepare certified payroll on behalf of one or more contractors.
• Anyone using a saved template, an old software export, or a general contractor's provided blank form that hasn't been refreshed since the January 2025 revision.

What to do before October 1, 2026

1. Check the form your team is currently filling in — the OMB expiration date is printed in the top right of page 1.
2. If it shows an expiration date earlier than 01/31/2028, you're on the old version. Download the current WH-347 and instructions from the Department of Labor: dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347.
3. If a general contractor or awarding agency supplied your template, ask whether they've updated it — some GCs are slower to refresh the blank forms they hand out.
4. If you use certified payroll software or a spreadsheet macro, confirm with your vendor (or check the export yourself) that it produces the current revision.

Frequently asked

Do I need to resubmit past weeks on the new form?

No — this only affects payroll periods reported on or after the old form's expiration. Reports you've already submitted on the prior version remain valid; you just need to be on the current form going forward.

Is the compliance statement (Statement of Compliance) affected too?

Yes — the compliance statement is part of the same WH-347 form and revision. If you use a separate statement of compliance document, check that it matches the current revision as well.

Does this apply to state prevailing-wage projects too?

This specific deadline is for the federal WH-347 form used on Davis-Bacon covered work. States with their own certified payroll systems — California's DIR eCPR, Washington's L&I PWIA, New York's electronic system, New Jersey's Wage Hub — run on their own forms and schedules, separate from this federal deadline.