New York State
New York Article 8 certified payroll operations
Certified payroll administration for contractors performing public work in New York State.
Overview
New York public works payroll
Public work in New York State carries prevailing wage, supplement and certified payroll reporting obligations distinct from ordinary payroll processing. Those obligations apply for the life of each covered project.
Certified Payroll Bureau administers that workflow for New York contractors. The Bureau establishes the project record, monitors the applicable wage schedule, reviews payroll information against project requirements, prepares certified payroll records for electronic submission, manages corrections and retains the project compliance file.
New York is the Bureau's first operating market. Work is performed for contractors on New York State and municipal public works contracts, with particular focus on specialty trade contractors.
Published Requirements
Requirements applying to New York public work
The statements below describe published government requirements. Each is presented with its source and the date it was last verified against that source.
Article 8 of the New York State Labor Law governs prevailing wage and supplement requirements on public work projects in New York State.
NYS Labor Law Article 8, §220 et seq. · Source: New York State Department of Labor — Public Work · Verified September 9, 2026
Contractors and subcontractors performing work covered by Article 8 are required to submit certified payroll records electronically to the New York State Department of Labor through the Certified Payroll Portal.
NYS Labor Law §220-j · Source: NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ · Verified September 9, 2026
The electronic submission requirement applies beginning January 1, 2026.
NYS Labor Law §220-j · Source: NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ · Verified September 9, 2026
Certified payroll records must be submitted at least once every thirty days for the duration of a covered project. Submission due dates are determined by project start and payroll end dates.
NYS Labor Law §220-j · Source: NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ · Verified September 9, 2026
Certified payroll records filed more than fourteen days after the due date are subject to a penalty of $100 for each subsequent day the filing is late.
NYS Labor Law §220-j · Source: NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ · Verified September 9, 2026
Certain New York City public work and roadway excavation projects require submission to a separate New York City database rather than to the State portal.
Source: NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ · Verified September 9, 2026
Prevailing wage and supplement rates applicable to a public work project are published by the New York State Department of Labor in project-specific wage schedules.
Source: NYSDOL — Prevailing Wage Schedules · Verified September 9, 2026
Current Enforcement Note
The New York State Department of Labor has stated that fines are not being issued while contractors adopt the electronic submission system, and that a public announcement will precede a change in that position. Submission obligations continue to apply during this period.
Source: NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ · Verified September 9, 2026
Information published by Certified Payroll Bureau is general and administrative in nature. It is not legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Contractors remain responsible for their own compliance determinations and for the certification of their payroll records. Requirements change. Contractors should confirm current obligations against the official sources cited above, and with their own advisors.
Operating Scope
What the Bureau performs on New York projects
Project Setup
The project record is established with contracting agency, contract or PRC identifiers, project location, work classifications expected on site and the applicable wage schedule.
Prevailing Wage Schedules
The wage schedule published for the project is recorded and monitored. Rate and supplement changes taking effect during the project term are applied to the periods they govern.
Worker Classifications
Recorded classifications are reviewed against the trade titles on the project wage schedule. Records suggesting work outside the recorded classification are raised as exceptions for contractor confirmation.
Supplements
Supplement amounts are reviewed against the schedule for the applicable period, including the treatment of benefit-fund contributions and any balance paid as wages.
Payroll Data Preparation
Payroll, time and project records provided by the contractor are reconciled into the payroll record for each reporting period. Existing payroll system exports are accepted.
Payroll Review
Hours, rates, classifications, supplements, deductions and apprentice records are reviewed against project requirements before the certified payroll record is prepared.
Electronic Certified Payroll Preparation
Certified payroll records are prepared in the format required for electronic submission, and submission periods are tracked against the schedule applicable to each project.
Corrections and Records
Amended records are prepared when corrected payroll information is provided. Original records, correction basis, amended records and submission documentation are retained together.
Division of Responsibility
Contractor certification responsibility
Certified payroll is a statement made by the contractor. That does not change when the administrative work is performed by the Bureau.
The contractor
- Provides accurate payroll, time and project records
- Confirms factual questions raised as exceptions
- Approves the payroll to be reported
- Executes the required certification
The Bureau
- Maintains the project and wage schedule record
- Reviews payroll information against project requirements
- Prepares certified payroll records and corrections
- Supports submission and retains the compliance file
Reference
Official resources
Primary government sources for New York public work and federal certified payroll requirements. These links lead to government websites operated independently of Certified Payroll Bureau.
- NYSDOL — Public Work and Prevailing Wage (opens in a new tab)Program overview, contractor obligations and enforcement information.
- NYSDOL — Electronic Payroll Submission (opens in a new tab)Certified Payroll Portal access and submission instructions.
- NYSDOL — Electronic Certified Payroll FAQ (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions on the electronic submission requirement.
- NYSDOL — Prevailing Wage Schedules (opens in a new tab)Published wage and supplement schedules by county and trade.
- New York State Labor Law, Article 8 (opens in a new tab)Statutory text governing public work in New York State.
- U.S. Department of Labor — Form WH-347 (opens in a new tab)Federal weekly certified payroll form and completion instructions.
Reference
Frequent questions
- Who must submit certified payroll electronically in New York?
- Contractors and subcontractors performing work covered by Article 8 of the New York State Labor Law are required to submit certified payroll records electronically to the New York State Department of Labor. The requirement applies beginning January 1, 2026. Source: New York State Department of Labor, Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ.
- How often must New York certified payroll records be submitted?
- At least once every thirty days for the duration of a covered project. Due dates are determined by project start and payroll end dates. Source: New York State Department of Labor, Electronic Certified Payroll Submission System FAQ.
- Does the Bureau certify payroll records on the contractor's behalf?
- No. Certified Payroll Bureau prepares the certified payroll record and supporting documentation. Factual confirmation and legal certification authority remain with the contractor.
- Can a contractor keep its existing payroll provider?
- Yes. The Bureau operates alongside the contractor's existing payroll and timekeeping systems and accepts standard payroll, time and project exports. No payroll migration is required.
Inquiries
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