FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is My Construction Payroll a software platform I have to manage?
Q: How are you handling the 2026 New York Mandatory Electronic Certified Payroll filing?
No. We are a full-service managed firm, not a "Do-It-Yourself" software. Unlike automated apps where you are responsible for data entry and compliance errors, our experts handle the heavy lifting. You provide the hours; we process the payroll, verify worker classifications, and generate audit-ready reports. We provide the service so you don't have to learn, update, or maintain the software(s).
Q: Why is a managed service better than DIY payroll software for contractors?
DIY software is a "generalist" tool that doesn't understand the nuances of construction. It won't catch a misclassified worker or an underpaid fringe benefit until you're already in an audit. As a managed service, we provide human oversight on every payroll run, ensuring your Form WH-347 and state-specific filings are 100% accurate before they are submitted.
As of January 1, 2026, New York State no longer accepts paper certified payroll. All records must be filed electronically through the NYS DOL portal. We handle this entire process for our clients—from formatting the data to the final digital submission—ensuring you stay compliant with the new state mandates without the administrative headache.
Q: Does your service cover the new Prevailing Wage expansions for Trucking and Off-Site Fabrication?
Yes. We have updated our processes to include the 2026 expansions. This includes prevailing wage tracking for concrete/asphalt trucking (including travel and detention time) and the June 2026 requirements for off-site custom fabrication. We ensure your vendors and drivers are paid correctly according to the latest 2026 wage determinations.
Q: What is the difference between standard and certified payroll?
Standard payroll handles basic tax withholding. Certified payroll is a legal declaration required for public works projects. It requires specific reporting of every worker's trade, hourly rate, and fringe benefits. We specialize in these complexities, including Davis-Bacon (federal) and NY/NJ/PA state prevailing wage laws, providing you with signature-ready reports every week.
Q: Can you manage Union reporting and fringe benefit credits?
Absolutely. We calculate complex union fringe benefits, pension contributions, and health/welfare deductions. We also calculate Fringe Benefit Credits against prevailing wage requirements, ensuring you don't overpay while remaining fully compliant with union contracts and state laws.
Q: How does the PEO model benefit a construction company's bottom line?
By partnering with us as a PEO, you gain access to "large-group" workers' compensation rates and health insurance plans typically reserved for massive corporations. This significantly lowers your overhead. Furthermore, we absorb much of the administrative liability associated with employment, protecting you from costly payroll audits and compliance penalties.
Q: Do I lose control of my crew if I use your PEO service?
Not at all. You maintain 100% "site control." You hire, fire, and manage your team’s daily work. We simply handle the "back-office" employment functions like payroll, tax filings, and HR compliance. We are your administrative partners, not your project managers.
Q: How do you handle job costing and "work-in-progress" (WIP) reporting?
Unlike basic payroll services that just give you a lump sum, we provide detailed Job Costing Reports that break down labor expenses by project, phase, or cost code. This allows you to see exactly where your labor budget is going in real-time, making it easier to manage your WIP reports and ensure your project profitability stays on track.
Q: Can you help with my annual Workers’ Comp and General Liability audits?
Yes. This is where our managed service truly shines. Because we track every hour by trade classification and project type throughout the year, we provide Audit-Ready Packages for your insurance carriers. We don’t just give you a pile of data; we provide organized reports that match the specific class codes your insurers look for, often preventing overpayments caused by misclassification.
Q: How does "Pay-As-You-Go" Workers' Comp work with your service?
We eliminate the "audit shock" of traditional insurance. Instead of paying a massive estimated down payment, your Workers’ Comp premiums are calculated and paid based on your actual weekly payroll. This significantly improves your cash flow, as you only pay for the labor you’ve actually used, and it virtually eliminates the risk of a massive "catch-up" bill at the end of the year.
Q: Do you support reporting for Wrap-Up insurance programs like OCIP or CCIP?
Yes. Managing payroll for projects under an Owner Controlled (OCIP) or Contractor Controlled (CCIP) Insurance Program requires specialized "ex-mod" reporting where insurance costs are stripped out of the payroll data. We handle the monthly payroll reporting and close-out documentation for these programs, ensuring your data is uploaded correctly to the wrap-up administrator's portal so you don't face withheld payments or administrative fines.