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

Iowa has no state prevailing-wage law

Unlike states with their own electronic formats, Iowa does not require prevailing wages or certified payroll on state- or locally-funded work as a matter of state law. There is no Iowa form to file and no state portal to upload to. If your Iowa job has no federal funding, no certified payroll obligation is triggered at all.

Federal funding triggers Davis-Bacon and the WH-347

When an Iowa project is federally funded — directly or through federal grants — the Davis-Bacon Act applies, and contractors submit weekly certified payroll on the federal WH-347. The applicable wage determination comes from the federal schedule for the work location and classification, not from any Iowa-specific source. Always confirm the funding and the wage determination for your contract.

From your payroll run to a file-ready WH-347

PayrollPenguin takes your existing payroll — ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Paychex, or a CSV export — and reshapes it into the WH-347 layout, including the Statement of Compliance. It maps each worker’s classification, splits straight-time and overtime hours, and handles fringe as cash or plan contributions. It reformats your numbers; it never invents a wage.

How to file Iowa certified payroll

1. Import your payroll run. Upload your ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Paychex, or CSV payroll for the pay period.
2. Confirm the job is federally funded. Certified payroll in Iowa is triggered by federal Davis-Bacon funding, so attach the project and its federal wage determination.
3. Resolve flagged anomalies. PayrollPenguin flags missing fringe, classification gaps, or rates below the wage determination before you can certify.
4. Certify and export the WH-347. Sign the Statement of Compliance, then download the file-ready WH-347 to submit.

Frequently asked questions

Does Iowa have a state prevailing-wage law?

No. Iowa has no state prevailing-wage law and no state certified-payroll form or portal. Certified payroll applies only to federally-funded work under the Davis-Bacon Act, filed on the federal WH-347.

Which form do I file for an Iowa project?

For a federally-funded Iowa job, you file the federal WH-347 weekly. There is no Iowa-specific form. If the job has no federal funding, no certified payroll is required as a matter of Iowa state law.

Is PayrollPenguin a compliance guarantee?

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