How to file certified payroll in Alabama (Davis-Bacon WH-347)

No state law — federal funding is the trigger

Unlike states with their own prevailing-wage statutes, Alabama does not set prevailing wages for public works, so an ordinary state or local job does not require certified payroll. The obligation appears only when federal money is involved and Davis-Bacon (or a Related Act) applies to the contract. When it does, the awarding agency expects weekly certified payroll on the WH-347.

The WH-347 and your wage determination

Each Davis-Bacon contract carries a wage determination that lists the required hourly rate and fringe for every classification on the job. The WH-347 reports each worker’s classification, hours, gross pay, deductions, and fringe for the pay period. PayrollPenguin maps your payroll lines to the right classifications and flags a rate below the determination or a missing fringe component as an anomaly for your review — it reformats your numbers; it never invents a wage.

SSNs and the Statement of Compliance

The WH-347 shows only the last four digits of each worker’s Social Security Number, and PayrollPenguin stores only those last four digits — it never keeps the full number by default. The form also includes the Statement of Compliance that you, the contractor, sign. PayrollPenguin produces the draft and captures who certified what and when; you attest and the awarding agency reviews.

How to file Alabama certified payroll

1. Import your payroll run. Upload your ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Paychex, or CSV payroll for the pay period.
2. Pick the federally-funded project. Select the Davis-Bacon project and attach its wage determination so classifications and rates line up.
3. Resolve anomalies. PayrollPenguin flags missing fringe, a rate below the wage determination, or classification gaps for you to review before you certify.
4. Certify and export the WH-347. Sign the Statement of Compliance, then download the file-ready WH-347 PDF to submit to the awarding agency.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alabama have its own certified payroll form?

No. Alabama has no state prevailing-wage law, so there is no Alabama certified-payroll form or state portal. Certified payroll applies only to federally-funded work under Davis-Bacon, which is filed on the federal WH-347.

When do I need certified payroll on an Alabama job?

Only when the project is federally funded and Davis-Bacon or a Related Act applies to the contract. A purely state- or privately-funded Alabama job does not trigger prevailing-wage certified payroll. If Davis-Bacon applies, you report weekly on the WH-347.

Is PayrollPenguin a compliance guarantee?

No. PayrollPenguin is a reporting and formatting tool — it formats your payroll to the official WH-347 specification and flags anomalies for your review. You certify and the awarding agency reviews.