California eCPR XML Export: Contractor's Guide
— WH347.io Team
California requires all contractors on public works projects to submit certified payroll electronically through the DIR's eCPR system. Here's what the requirements look like and how WH347.io generates a ready-to-upload XML file.
California has some of the most stringent certified payroll reporting requirements in the country. For contractors working on public works projects in the state, compliance isn't optional — and mistakes can hold up progress payments, trigger audits, or result in penalty assessments from the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).
WH347.io now supports direct California eCPR XML export, generating files that are ready to upload to the DIR's eCPR system without any manual data entry. Here's what that means, why it matters, and what the California requirements actually look like.
What Is the California eCPR?
The Electronic Certified Payroll Report (eCPR) is California's online system, managed by the DIR, for collecting certified payroll records from contractors and subcontractors on public works projects covered by prevailing wage law. Since 2020, the DIR has required all contractors on covered projects to submit payroll data electronically through the eCPR portal. The DIR provides an XML upload option for contractors submitting records for multiple employees or multiple weeks — which is exactly what WH347.io generates.
DIR Registration (PWCR Number)
Every contractor and subcontractor must register with the DIR's Public Works Contractor Registration program (PWCR) before bidding or working on any public works project. The PWCR number is a 10-digit identifier (or NA for owner-operators in some cases) and must appear on every certified payroll report submitted to the DIR.
Contractor License (CSLB)
The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license number and license type must be reported on every eCPR submission. Three license types are recognized: CSLB (Contractors State License Board), PL (Public Law designations), and OTHER.
Double-Time Hours
California labor law requires double-time pay after 12 hours in a single workday, and for all hours on the 7th consecutive day of work in a workweek. The eCPR XML format has a dedicated DT (double-time) field for each day of the week, separate from ST (straight time) and OT (overtime). WH347.io tracks and exports all three hour types, so the XML reflects your actual pay liability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California eCPR system?
The Electronic Certified Payroll Report (eCPR) is California's online system, managed by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), for collecting certified payroll records from contractors on public works projects covered by prevailing wage law. Since 2020, all contractors on covered California projects must submit payroll data electronically through the eCPR portal.
Who must submit certified payroll through California's eCPR?
All contractors and subcontractors on California public works projects subject to prevailing wage law must use the eCPR system. This includes state-funded construction, local agency projects (cities, counties, school districts), and federal projects in California where the awarding agency requires eCPR in addition to the WH-347.
What is a PWCR number and why is it required?
A PWCR number is a 10-digit identifier issued by the DIR's Public Works Contractor Registration program. Every contractor and subcontractor must be registered with the DIR before working on any California public works project, and the PWCR number must appear on every eCPR submission.
How does California's eCPR differ from the federal WH-347?
California's eCPR requires additional fields not on the federal WH-347: double-time hours (for hours beyond 12 in a day or the 7th consecutive day), CA SDI deductions, a detailed fringe benefit breakdown, PWCR and CSLB license numbers, and apprenticeship program details. The submission format is XML uploaded to the DIR portal rather than a PDF sent to a contracting agency.
How does WH347.io generate the California eCPR XML?
WH347.io validates the XML against the DIR's official XSD schema before download. It populates all required fields — PWCR number, CSLB license, double-time hours, CA SDI, fringe details — from data already in your account. The export filename follows the DIR's naming convention and is ready to upload to the eCPR portal without manual editing.