The short version
Monthly certified payroll in IDOL's portal, by the 15th
- Law: Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130 [820 ILCS 130]
- Agency: Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL)
- Where: IDOL Prevailing Wage Portal
- How often: By the 15th of each month, for the month before (only months with work)
How to file certified payroll in Illinois
- Create an Illinois Public ID account for the portal [IDOL].
- No later than the 15th of each month, file a certified payroll for the previous month, in IDOL's database [820 ILCS 130/5]. Months without work need no filing.
- Enter payrolls in the portal or import them with IDOL's Excel template [IDOL].
- Keep the records for at least 5 years [820 ILCS 130/5].
What goes on it
Each worker's name, address, phone when available, the last 4 digits of the Social Security number, gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, classification and skill level, daily hours with start and end times, hourly, overtime and fringe rates, gross and net wages, and fringe fund details [820 ILCS 130/5]. Address, phone, SSN digits, race, ethnicity and gender are kept out of public records. A signed statement goes with each filing.
Contracts covered only by the federal Davis-Bacon Act are not filed in the Illinois portal [IDOL FAQ].
Overtime
Contractors pay the overtime and holiday rates on IDOL's schedule for each classification [820 ILCS 130/3].
Apprentices
Only workers enrolled in a U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program may be paid an apprentice rate, and they receive the same fringe benefits as journeymen [IDOL FAQ].
Penalties for late or wrong payrolls
- Not filing a certified payroll: up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $2,000 for each later one, each month a separate offense [820 ILCS 130/5].
- Underpayment: a 20 percent penalty to IDOL and 2 percent a month to the worker; willful non-filing or false filing is a Class A misdemeanor [820 ILCS 130/11].
What changed recently
- Penalties for missing certified payrolls were set at up to $1,000 and $2,000 per month by Public Act 104-23 (effective June 30, 2025) [820 ILCS 130/5].
- IDOL's portal accepts a new Excel import template from July 1, 2025 [IDOL].
Federal projects in Illinois
A project covered only by Davis-Bacon is not filed in the Illinois portal; you send the federal weekly certified payroll to your prime or agency. When a project is covered by both laws, you file both.
For the federal side, see how to fill out the WH-347 and the Illinois Davis-Bacon rates by county.
Forms and official links
Frequently asked questions
When is Illinois certified payroll due?
Do I file a Davis-Bacon-only project in the Illinois portal?
Can LevelWage file my Illinois payroll for me?
Sources
- Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130
- IDOL: Prevailing Wage Act
- IDOL: Certified transcript of payroll and portal
- IDOL: Certified payroll FAQ
- IDOL: Prevailing wage FAQ
- IDOL: Current prevailing rates
LevelWage prepares reports for your review. This page explains the rules in plain words; it is not legal advice. When a rule matters to a decision, read the source and your contract.