6 Weeks Until the Old WH-347 Is Rejected: Are You Ready?
— WH347.io Team
September 30, 2026 is six weeks away. After that date, contracting agencies must reject any WH-347 submitted on the old form. Here's a three-question readiness check — and what to do if you're not there yet.
Source caution — checked October 5, 2026: The September 30/October 1 rejection deadline and March 2029 replacement-form date asserted in this historical article are not supported by the current DOL instructions. The published form is Rev. January 2025, OMB Control No. 1235-0008, expiring January 31, 2028. Use of WH-347 itself is optional; required weekly payroll information and a signed compliance statement are not. An OMB approval expiration date is not, by itself, a filing deadline. Follow the current official DOL form instructions and your contracting agency's requirements, not the deadline claims below.
September 30, 2026 is six weeks away. That's the last day contracting agencies can accept the old WH-347 certified payroll form. Starting October 1, submissions on the old form must be rejected — not flagged for correction, not returned with a grace period, rejected.
Six weeks sounds like plenty of time, but for contractors managing active projects with weekly submission cycles, the deadline tends to arrive faster than expected. This post covers what is changing, the specific hard deadline, and a three-question readiness check to tell you exactly where you stand right now.
What's Changing and Why
The Department of Labor issued a new WH-347 form to reflect the 2023 Davis-Bacon final rule — the most significant update to prevailing wage regulations in over 40 years. The updated form has revised Statement of Compliance language that aligns with the new regulatory definitions. It also carries a new OMB approval expiration date (March 31, 2029 on the new form, versus September 30, 2026 on the old one).
The core structure of the form — nine payroll columns, two-page layout, weekly submission cadence — is unchanged. The switch requires no retraining. For contractors using software that auto-updates, it's likely already done. For those using downloaded PDF templates or software that doesn't auto-update, action is required.
For the complete breakdown of what changed on the form, why it was updated, and the full September 30 timeline: New WH-347 Form: September 30, 2026 Deadline.
The Three-Question Readiness Check
Question 1: Do You Know Which Form Version You're On?
Start with the current official form version check, using the DOL WH-347 instructions as your reference. When briefing your crew or subs, separate form maintenance from the continuing weekly subcontractor payroll obligations.
Pull up the most recent WH-347 PDF you generated — or generate a new one right now. Look at the footer of page 1. You're looking for the OMB expiration date:
- If it says 'Expires 03/31/2029' — you are on the new form. No action needed on the form version itself.
- If it says 'Expires 09/30/2026' — you are on the old form and need to make the switch before the deadline.
- If you're not sure where to find this — it's in the small print at the very bottom of page 1, typically on the left or center. If you can't locate it or the form doesn't have it, that's a sign you may be using an unofficial or very old template.
Question 2: Does Your Software Auto-Update?
If you use certified payroll software, find out now whether the vendor updates their form templates automatically or whether you need to take an action to get the new form. Don't assume — check.
Log into your account and look for a release note, an update notification, or a banner about the WH-347 form change. Alternatively, generate a test WH-347 and check the OMB expiration date in the footer (new form: March 31, 2029). If you see the old date or can't find any update notification, contact your vendor's support team this week.
WH347.io updates its form templates centrally — every PDF generated on the platform uses the current DOL form automatically, without any action from the user.
Question 3: Have You Informed Your Subcontractors?
Every subcontractor on your active federal projects is individually required to switch to the new form by October 1. As prime contractor, you bear compliance responsibility for the full project — if a sub submits on the old form after September 30 and their payroll is rejected, that gap in the record can affect your progress payments.
Have you sent your subs a written notice about the deadline? If not, do it this week. The message can be brief: the old WH-347 form is retired September 30, 2026; all submissions from October 1 forward must use the new form (OMB No. 1235-0008, exp. March 31, 2029); confirm your software has been updated and reply with confirmation. Six weeks is enough time for every sub to sort this out — if they know about it.
If You're Not Ready Yet
Six weeks is the right amount of time to make this transition without any last-minute pressure. The form change itself is minor — the compliance workflow is identical, only the template is different. The risk is organizational: making sure every part of your process (your software, your team's habits, your subs) has been updated before the deadline hits.
- Software not yet updated: contact your vendor today. Six weeks gives them time to push the update and you time to test it.
- Using a downloaded PDF template: go to dol.gov right now and download the current form. Delete or archive the old version so no one accidentally reaches for it.
- Subs not notified: send the written notice this week. Document that you sent it.
- Not using a dedicated tool yet: consider WH347.io — the Starter plan is free and generates compliant WH-347 PDFs without any manual form management.
We'll publish a new countdown post each week through September 25 to keep this deadline front of mind. Next week: What Happens If You Submit the Old WH-347 After September 30? — the specific consequences and how to recover if a rejection happens mid-project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WH-347 form expiration deadline?
The old WH-347 form (OMB No. 1235-0008, exp. 09/30/2026) is retired on September 30, 2026. Starting October 1, contracting agencies are required to reject certified payroll submissions made on the old form. The new form carries an expiration of March 31, 2029.
How do I tell if I'm using the new WH-347 form?
Check the footer of page 1 of your WH-347 form or PDF. The new form shows 'Expires 03/31/2029' next to OMB No. 1235-0008. The old form shows 'Expires 09/30/2026'. If you're using certified payroll software, generate a test PDF and check the footer.
What do I do if my certified payroll software hasn't updated to the new form?
Contact your vendor immediately and ask when the update will be available. Six weeks is sufficient time for the vendor to push an update, but you need to confirm it is in their plan. If they cannot update before the deadline, temporarily switch to a compliant tool or download the current form from dol.gov.
Do my subcontractors also have to switch to the new WH-347 form?
Yes. Every subcontractor on a covered project is independently responsible for their own certified payroll submissions. Each must use the new form starting October 1. As prime contractor, send written notice to all active subs now — six weeks is enough time for them to update their process if they know about the deadline.
Do I need to resubmit prior payrolls that were filed on the old form?
No. The September 30 deadline is prospective — it applies to submissions made on or after October 1, 2026. Payrolls already accepted by the contracting agency on the old form do not need to be retroactively resubmitted.