Lou Perez
Jul 13, 2023

Simplifying Construction Payroll: Solutions for Complex Challenges

Payroll
Experience the future of construction workforce management with Lumber
Talk to our expert
Are you tired of spending hours every week trying to make sense of your payroll data?

The Construction industry is fast-paced with multiple job sites, complex labor laws and compliance, and ever-changing project requirements. These companies face unique challenges when it comes to payroll management. 

In this blog, we will delve into the challenges of managing payroll in the construction industry and explore effective strategies to streamline the process.

Challenges in Payroll Management in Construction

Variable Workforce

The construction industry often relies on a fluctuating workforce that includes full-time employees, part-time workers, contractors, and subcontractors. Keeping track of different payment structures and ensuring accurate compensation can be challenging.

Complex Time Tracking

Construction projects involve various tasks, each with different hourly rates and overtime rules. Tracking time and the rate spent on each task accurately is crucial to avoid underpaying or overpaying employees.

Regulatory Compliance

The construction industry is subject to numerous labor laws, tax regulations, and safety standards and regulatory compliance. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to legal complications and financial penalties.

Data Accuracy

Any Manual data entry increases the risk of errors, such as incorrect hours, rates, and deductions. These errors can result in disputes and impact employee morale.

Time Sensitivity

The fast-paced nature of construction projects means that payroll processing must be timely and accurate to maintain worker satisfaction and meet financial obligations.

Here are a few tips and strategies that you as a construction business can implement to streamline the payroll process and improve overall efficiency.

Efficient Payroll Management Strategies

Implement Construction Payroll software: Transitioning from manual payroll processes to payroll software for the construction industry can significantly enhance efficiency. Look for a software solution that offers automated time tracking, direct deposit options, and comprehensive reporting capabilities. By electronically managing employee hours, wages, and deductions, you can reduce errors, save time, and simplify the payroll process.

Invest in accurate time tracking tools: Accurate time tracking is critical in the construction industry, where workers are often spread across multiple job sites. You may have a requirement to track mileage as well.  Implementing time-tracking software for construction with Geo-fencing capabilities will enable employees to clock in and out from anywhere on the job site. This ensures accurate record-keeping and eliminates disputes related to work hours.

Stay compliant with labor laws and regulations: Construction businesses must keep up with labor laws and regulations to avoid penalties and legal issues. As a business owner, you need to familiarize yourself with wage regulations, overtime rules, benefits requirements, and tax obligations specific to the construction industry or work with a certified payroll professional. Another alternative for construction companies would be to implement construction payroll software that ensures compliance with labor laws and regulations. 

Streamline pay processes for multiple projects: Construction companies often work on multiple projects simultaneously, making payroll management complex. To ensure accuracy and streamline the process, consider implementing a centralized system that tracks labor costs and allocates them accordingly to specific projects. This way, you can easily monitor expenses, simplify cost allocation, and ease administrative burdens.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec ullamcorper mattis lorem non. Ultrices praesent amet ipsum justo massa. Eu dolor aliquet risus gravida nunc at feugiat consequat purus. Non massa enim vitae duis mattis. Vel in ultricies vel fringilla.

Introduction

Mi tincidunt elit, id quisque ligula ac diam, amet. Vel etiam suspendisse morbi eleifend faucibus eget vestibulum felis. Dictum quis montes, sit sit. Tellus aliquam enim urna, etiam. Mauris posuere vulputate arcu amet, vitae nisi, tellus tincidunt. At feugiat sapien varius id.

Eget quis mi enim, leo lacinia pharetra, semper. Eget in volutpat mollis at volutpat lectus velit, sed auctor. Porttitor fames arcu quis fusce augue enim. Quis at habitant diam at. Suscipit tristique risus, at donec. In turpis vel et quam imperdiet. Ipsum molestie aliquet sodales id est ac volutpat.

Ipsum sit mattis nulla quam nulla. Gravida id gravida ac enim mauris id. Non pellentesque congue eget consectetur turpis. Sapien, dictum molestie sem tempor. Diam elit, orci, tincidunt aenean tempus. Quis velit eget ut tortor tellus. Sed vel, congue felis elit erat nam nibh orci.

“In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear.”
Lou Perez
Head of Sales,

Dolor enim eu tortor urna sed duis nulla. Aliquam vestibulum, nulla odio nisl vitae. In aliquet pellentesque aenean hac vestibulum turpis mi bibendum diam. Tempor integer aliquam in vitae malesuada fringilla.

Elit nisi in eleifend sed nisi. Pulvinar at orci, proin imperdiet commodo consectetur convallis risus. Sed condimentum enim dignissim adipiscing faucibus consequat, urna. Viverra purus et erat auctor aliquam. Risus, volutpat vulputate posuere purus sit congue convallis aliquet. Arcu id augue ut feugiat donec porttitor neque. Mauris, neque ultricies eu vestibulum, bibendum quam lorem id. Dolor lacus, eget nunc lectus in tellus, pharetra, porttitor.

Ipsum sit mattis nulla quam nulla. Gravida id gravida ac enim mauris id. Non pellentesque congue eget consectetur turpis. Sapien, dictum molestie sem tempor. Diam elit, orci, tincidunt aenean tempus. Quis velit eget ut tortor tellus. Sed vel, congue felis elit erat nam nibh orci.

Software and tools

Mi tincidunt elit, id quisque ligula ac diam, amet. Vel etiam suspendisse morbi eleifend faucibus eget vestibulum felis. Dictum quis montes, sit sit. Tellus aliquam enim urna, etiam. Mauris posuere vulputate arcu amet, vitae nisi, tellus tincidunt. At feugiat sapien varius id.

Eget quis mi enim, leo lacinia pharetra, semper. Eget in volutpat mollis at volutpat lectus velit, sed auctor. Porttitor fames arcu quis fusce augue enim. Quis at habitant diam at. Suscipit tristique risus, at donec. In turpis vel et quam imperdiet. Ipsum molestie aliquet sodales id est ac volutpat.

Other resources

Mi tincidunt elit, id quisque ligula ac diam, amet. Vel etiam suspendisse morbi eleifend faucibus eget vestibulum felis. Dictum quis montes, sit sit. Tellus aliquam enim urna, etiam. Mauris posuere vulputate arcu amet, vitae nisi, tellus tincidunt. At feugiat sapien varius id.

Eget quis mi enim, leo lacinia pharetra, semper. Eget in volutpat mollis at volutpat lectus velit, sed auctor. Porttitor fames arcu quis fusce augue enim. Quis at habitant diam at. Suscipit tristique risus, at donec. In turpis vel et quam imperdiet. Ipsum molestie aliquet sodales id est ac volutpat.

  • Lectus id duis vitae porttitor enim gravida morbi.
  • Eu turpis posuere semper feugiat volutpat elit, ultrices suspendisse. Auctor vel in vitae placerat.
  • Suspendisse maecenas ac donec scelerisque diam sed est duis purus.

Lectus leo massa amet posuere. Malesuada mattis non convallis quisque. Libero sit et imperdiet bibendum quisque dictum vestibulum in non. Pretium ultricies tempor non est diam. Enim ut enim amet amet integer cursus. Sit ac commodo pretium sed etiam turpis suspendisse at.

Tristique odio senectus nam posuere ornare leo metus, ultricies. Blandit duis ultricies vulputate morbi feugiat cras placerat elit. Aliquam tellus lorem sed ac. Montes, sed mattis pellentesque suscipit accumsan. Cursus viverra aenean magna risus elementum faucibus molestie pellentesque. Arcu ultricies sed mauris vestibulum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Suscipit lorem tellus volutpat egestas.
Get a demo
Get a demo
Mandatory Deadlines | Internal Review/Best Practice 
Critical Construction Compliance | Awareness Week
January 2026
Jan 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 & 30
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Thursday, Jan 15, 2026
Deadline for December 2025 Monthly Depositor Tax Liabilities
Monday, Feb 2, 2026
(Standard Jan 31 deadline shifted to next business day as it falls on a weekend)
1. File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) for Q4 2025
2. Distribute Form W-2s to employees for 2025
3. Distribute Form 1099-NEC to subcontractors for 2025
4. File Form W-2s with the Social Security Administration (SSA)
5. File Form 1099-NEC with IRS
6. File Form 1096 (summary of 1099s)
7. State Unemployment and Quarterly Wage Reports for Q4 2025
These reports are typically due Jan 31. Verify state-specific deadlines and file accordingly.
Annual Depositor Deadline (Form 944 Filers)
Annual depositors must file Form 944 and deposit taxes with the return by this date. 
February 2026
Feb 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026
Extended deadline to file Form 941 (Q4 2025)
Only if all Q4 2025 federal tax deposits were made on time.
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026
Deadline for January Monthly Depositor tax liabilities
(Feb 15 is a Sunday and Feb 16 is President’s Day)
March 2026
Mar 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Monday, Mar 2, 2026
File Form 1099-MISC with the IRS (paper filing)
(Standard Feb 28 deadline shifted to next business day)
Monday,
Mar 16, 2026
Deadline for Feb Monthly Depositor tax liabilities
April 2026
Apr 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 & 29
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Wednesday
Apr 15, 2026
Deadline for March Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026
1. File Form 941 for Q1 2026
2. File State Quarterly Wage Reports (Verify state-specific deadlines)
Internal Compliance Review: Review certified payroll reports and compliance for Q1.
Certified payroll reports are due WEEKLY for prevailing wage projects.
May 2026
May 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 & 29
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Friday, May 15, 2026
Deadline for April Monthly Depositor tax liabilities
June 2026
Jun 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 & 26
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Monday, Jun 15, 2026
Deadline for May Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026
1. Mid-year review of workers' compensation insurance
2. Review certified payroll compliance for prevailing wage projects
Certified payroll reports are due WEEKLY for prevailing wage projects.
July 2026
Jul 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29 & 31
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026
Deadline for June Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
Friday, Jul 31, 2026
1. File Form 941 for Q2 2026
2. File state quarterly wage reports (Verify state-specific deadlines)
3. Review and update fringe benefit rates for union projects
August 2026
Aug 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 & 28
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Monday, Aug 17, 2026
Deadline for July Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
(Aug 15 is a Saturday)
September 2026
Sep 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 & 30
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Sep 7 - Sep 11, 2025
National Payroll Week
Take a moment to appreciate yourself this week. You deserve it.
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026
Deadline for August Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
Wednesday Sep 30, 2026
1. Review job costing and labor burden rates
2. Prepare for year-end certified payroll audits
October 2026
Oct 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 & 30
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Thursday, Oct 15, 2026
Deadline for September Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
November 2026
Nov 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Monday, Nov 2, 2026
1. File Form 941 for Q3 2026
2. File state quarterly wage reports (Verify state-specific deadlines)

Monday, Nov 16, 2026
Deadline for October Monthly Depositor tax liabilities 
(Nov 15 is a Sunday)
Monday,
Nov 30, 2026
Year-End Preparation:
1. Order W-2 and 1099 forms for year-end
2. Review subcontractor W-9s and update as needed
December 2026
Dec 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 28 & 30
Semi-Weekly Federal Tax Deposit Due
Sat-Tue wages → Friday deposit; Wed-Fri wages → Wednesday deposit
Tuesday,
Dec 15, 2026

1. Final payroll of the year - verify all hours and classifications
2. Ensure all certified payroll reports are submitted for prevailing wage work
Certified payroll reports are due WEEKLY for prevailing wage projects.
3. Complete year-end workers' compensation audit paperwork
Latest posts

Essential resources for contractors

Interviews, tips, guides, industry best practices, and news.
Lou Perez
Jan 21, 2026

2026 Construction Payroll & Tax Calendar: Stay Compliant All Year Long

Payroll
Lou Perez
Jan 19, 2026

NYS Prevailing Wage Updates 2026: Key Changes for Contractors

Compliance
New York
Lou Perez
Jan 14, 2026

National Construction Appreciation Week 2026: A Complete Industry Guide

Events
Supercharge your construction workforce
Talk to our Lumber expert to get started.
Book a demo