The pay-app deadline is tomorrow, and the subcontractor's AIA G702 PDF is sitting beside a G703 continuation sheet with totals that don't agree. The project manager is asking why the retainage changed, the architect wants a corrected package, and the accounting team is searching for the prior certified application.
The form usually isn't the problem. The problem is treating the G702 as a standalone PDF instead of the summary page in a contract-aware billing package. The G703, invoice, stored-material records, and lien waivers all need to tell the same financial story.
Table of Contents
- What the AIA G702 PDF Actually Is
- Why Free G702 PDFs Can Be Risky
- How to Fill Out the G702 Line by Line
- Retainage and Stored Materials on the G702
- Tying the G702 to the G703 Continuation Sheet
- Worked Example of a Complete Pay Application
- Common G702 Errors That Delay Payment
- Automating the AIA G702 With Drawra
- Quick Reference Checklist for Your Next Draw
What the AIA G702 PDF Actually Is
A subcontractor may notice the mismatch first. The G703 shows one total for completed and stored work, while the G702 shows another. Someone copied a figure from an old spreadsheet, a change order was approved after the last draw, or retainage was calculated against the wrong base. The reviewer sends the application back, and the payment cycle stops until every line is reconciled.
The AIA G702 Application and Certificate for Payment is the summary form used for the contractor's application and the architect's certificate for payment. AIA's instructions identify the G702 as the contractor's application and the architect's certificate, while the companion G703 continuation sheet supplies the supporting line-item detail in the payment package. You can review the official AIA G702 instructions for the form's stated purpose and document lineage.
The summary page and its supporting detail
The G703 is the schedule-of-values detail. It records each line item, scheduled value, completed work, stored materials, retainage treatment, and cumulative totals. The G702 then summarizes those results for the owner, lender, architect, and contractor.
The summary includes the figures reviewers use to understand the draw:
Original contract sum
Approved change-order movement
Contract sum to date
Completed and stored work
Retainage
Total earned less retainage
Previous certificates
Current payment due
Every figure must trace to an executed contract, approved change order, G703 total, stored-material record, or prior certified application. That's why the right working method is to update the G703 and source records first, then complete or generate the G702 from those totals.
Practical rule: Treat the G702 as the cover page of the billing package. If the G703, invoice, and waivers don't support it, the PDF isn't ready to submit.
AIA still lists the G702-1992 and G703-1992 among its payment-application variants, alongside newer variants such as G702S-2017 and G703CW-2021. The official forms therefore have a long publication lineage, and the edition named in the project documents matters.
Why Free G702 PDFs Can Be Risky
A search for a free, fillable AIA G702 PDF produces plenty of results. The difficulty is deciding whether the file is an official AIA document, an example, a recreated template, or an unauthorized copy.
Official AIA documents are copyrighted and sold through AIA Contract Documents rather than offered as a public free download. Public templates can be useful for learning the layout, but they may not be legally usable as the project's required form. The construction glossary discussion of the AIA G702 and G703 describes this official-versus-unofficial source problem and the compliance confusion it creates.
What can go wrong
An unofficial PDF can look convincing and still create trouble:
Edition mismatch: The architect's contract administrator may expect the stated edition and reject a different layout.
Missing fields: A recreation may remove a retainage field, certification language, or notary area.
Flat-file problems: A scanned image may not support reliable entry, copying, printing, or validation.
Broken calculations: A template can contain formulas that don't reflect the project's change orders or retainage clauses.
Package inconsistency: A free G702 may not connect to the G703, invoice, or waivers.
Before using a downloaded file, check that it identifies the correct edition, carries the expected AIA copyright notice, matches the project's contract documents, and contains usable fillable fields. If the architect or general contractor supplied a required template, use that version instead of substituting a random search result.
Free versus official AIA G702 PDF
| Source | Edition Verified | Fillable Fields | Rejection Risk | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public example | May be unclear | May be limited | Higher if submitted as the official form | Often free |
| Recreated template | Must be checked manually | Varies by creator | Higher if labels or certification language differ | Often free or low cost |
| Scanned copy | Usually difficult to verify | Usually not truly fillable | Higher because printing and data entry can fail | Often free |
| Official AIA document | Identified by the purchased document | Designed for completion | Lower when it matches the contract requirements | Sold through AIA Contract Documents |
The practical trade-off is simple. A free file may help you understand the structure, but it doesn't automatically give you a compliant project document. Confirm acceptance with the architect or buy the official version when the contract requires it.
How to Fill Out the G702 Line by Line
Start with the header, then move through the financial lines in the order a reviewer reads them. Don't begin by typing the amount you want paid. Begin with the executed agreement, approved changes, current G703, and last certified application.
Header information
Enter the project name, owner, contractor, architect if applicable, application number, application date, billing period, contract date, and project number. The application number and period dates should continue the project's established sequence. A date gap can make the reviewer question whether work was billed twice or omitted.
The financial lines
Line 1, Original Contract Sum. Use the original executed contract amount. Don't fold approved changes into this line. Keep the original agreement amount distinct from later modifications.
Line 2, Net Change by Change Orders. Enter the net value of approved additions and deductions. Only include change orders supported by the project's approval process. A pending request isn't the same as an approved change.
Line 3, Contract Sum to Date. Add Line 1 and Line 2. This is the current contract value after approved changes.
Line 4, Total Completed and Stored to Date. Pull this from the appropriate G703 grand total. It should include eligible completed work and stored materials according to the contract.
Line 5, Retainage. Enter the applicable retainage for completed work and stored materials in the designated portions of the form. Don't assume both categories receive identical treatment. The contract controls.
Line 6, Total Earned Less Retainage. Subtract Line 5 from Line 4. This is the cumulative earned amount after withholding retainage.
Line 7, Previous Certificates for Payment. Carry forward the prior certified amount. For a later application, this should come from the previous application's earned-less-retainage line, not from a payment amount someone remembers receiving.
Line 8, Current Payment Due. Subtract Line 7 from Line 6. Procore's G702 explanation confirms this calculation, Line 6 minus Line 7.
Line 9, Balance to Finish, Including Retainage. Use the contract sum to date less the earned amount, following the form and project instructions.
Certification and signatures
The contractor completes the application and certification portion. The architect or other certifying party completes the certificate section after review. If notarization is required by the contract, sign in front of the notary rather than signing beforehand.
Every line either comes from the current G703 and contract records or rolls forward from the prior application. If Line 8 doesn't agree with the invoice and G703-supported amount, stop and correct the source data before signing.
Retainage and Stored Materials on the G702
Retainage causes more G702 corrections than almost any other calculation. The contract may apply a constant percentage to the overall amount, separate treatment to completed work and stored materials, or variable retainage by line item. You can't settle that question by looking only at a blank PDF.
The G702 can show retainage separately for completed work and stored materials. The G703 instructions state that Column I is normally used only when variable retainage is permitted on a line-item basis. If the project uses constant retainage withheld from the overall contract amount, Column I doesn't need to be completed. Review the official G703 continuation sheet instructions before deciding how to enter the values.
Work in place and stored materials
For completed work, retainage generally reduces the amount earned for the current cumulative billing. Stored materials require a separate contract check. The agreement may permit billing for eligible materials before installation, but it may also require invoices, photographs, title evidence, insurance, delivery records, or a specific retainage treatment.
Use a detailed construction materials list to support what is stored, where it is located, and whether it qualifies for billing. Don't assume that an item's presence on site automatically makes it billable.
At final billing, the retainage calculation may change because the remaining withheld amount is being released. Independent guidance on a retainage-only final AIA application explains that the final application should show the full contract amount in the earned calculation, subtract prior applications, and leave Line 8 equal to the retainage still eligible for release.
Tying the G702 to the G703 Continuation Sheet
The G702 is a summary. The G703 is the evidence behind that summary. If the two forms don't agree, the reviewer has no reliable way to confirm the requested payment.
Update the G703 first when the schedule of values, completed work, stored materials, or approved change orders change. Then carry the resulting totals into the G702. This order prevents a common mistake, where someone updates the summary but leaves the detailed continuation sheet unchanged.
| G702 Line | Description | Source on G703 |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Original contract sum | Original scheduled-value totals |
| Line 2 | Net change by change orders | Approved change-order adjustments |
| Line 3 | Contract sum to date | Revised contract or adjusted schedule totals |
| Line 4 | Completed and stored work | G703 grand total |
| Line 5 | Retainage | Applicable retainage totals |
| Line 6 | Earned less retainage | Completed and stored total less retainage |
| Line 7 | Previous certificates | Prior certified G702 application |
| Line 8 | Current payment due | Current earned amount less prior certificates |
The exact G702 line numbering can vary across related form versions or project-specific adaptations, so follow the version supplied for the contract. The underlying control remains the same: the summary and continuation totals must reconcile.
The change-order check
When an approved change order is added, update the relevant G703 schedule-of-values lines and confirm the revised contract total. Then verify the G702 contract-sum line and balance-to-finish calculation. Don't add the change only to the summary.
For schedule-of-values setup, a construction schedule of values template can help organize the line items before the first application. It won't replace the executed contract or the architect's required format, but it can give the billing team a controlled starting point.
The fastest reconciliation method is to find the first mismatched total, not to retype the entire application.
Worked Example of a Complete Pay Application
Consider a subcontractor with an original contract sum of $250,000, one approved change order of $15,000, 10% retainage, and $8,000 in stored materials that haven't been incorporated. These figures are an example for learning the calculation sequence, not a substitute for the project's contract terms.
The contract sum to date is:
$250,000 + $15,000 = $265,000
That makes the current contract sum to date $265,000. The subcontractor's total completed and stored work is $92,750, including the $8,000 stored-material amount.
Calculating the earned amount
The work-in-place portion subject to retainage is $84,750, because:
$92,750 - $8,000 = $84,750
At 10%, retainage withheld on that work is $8,475. In this example, the stored materials are treated separately because the contract allows them to be included in the current work total without applying the same withholding to that category.
The cumulative earned amount after retainage is:
$92,750 - $8,475 = $84,275
That is the amount carried into the earned-less-retainage line.
Calculating the current draw
Assume prior certified payments total $50,000. The current payment due is:
$84,275 - $50,000 = $34,275
The remaining balance to finish, including retainage, is:
$265,000 - $84,275 = $180,725
The example therefore produces this summary:
| Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original contract sum | $250,000 |
| Approved change order | $15,000 |
| Contract sum to date | $265,000 |
| Completed and stored work | $92,750 |
| Retainage withheld | $8,475 |
| Earned less retainage | $84,275 |
| Previous certificates | $50,000 |
| Current payment due | $34,275 |
| Balance to finish | $180,725 |
The same totals must appear in the corresponding G703 columns. The G703 work total, retainage total, and revised contract total should match the G702 figures exactly. Only after those totals agree should the contractor complete the certification and submit the package.
Common G702 Errors That Delay Payment
Most rejected pay apps don't fail because the form is complicated. They fail because one source record wasn't updated, one carry-forward figure was copied incorrectly, or someone signed before checking the package.
| Common Error | Where It Shows Up | One-Line Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Contract sum doesn't match the executed agreement | Line 1 and contract summary | Replace Line 1 with the original executed contract amount and show approved changes separately. |
| Change orders are missing or duplicated | Line 2, Line 3, and G703 | Reconcile approved additions and deductions against the signed change-order log. |
| Retainage uses the wrong base | Line 5 and G703 retainage columns | Apply the percentage to the work category and base specified in the contract. |
| G702 totals drift from the G703 | Lines 4, 5, 6, and 8 | Correct the G703 source totals first, then update the G702. |
| Prior certificates aren't carried forward | Line 7 | Copy the prior certified earned amount from the last approved application. |
| Billing periods don't follow one another | Header dates | Make the new period start after the prior period ends and match the contract cycle. |
| Certification is unsigned | Contractor certification and certificate block | Obtain every required signature and complete notarization where the contract requires it. |
A stamped form isn't necessarily a signed form. If the contract requires a signature, a notary stamp without the contractor's completed certification can still send the application back.
Check three items first: contract sum, retainage base, and signed certification. Then verify the arithmetic tie between Line 8 and the G703-supported current amount. Those checks catch the failures that most often turn a routine draw into a correction cycle.
Automating the AIA G702 With Drawra
Manual entry works when the project is simple and the records are clean. It becomes fragile when the team rekeys the same figures into the G703, G702, invoice, and waivers.
Drawra - English can scan an executed contract, extract billing requirements, and use the project's schedule of values and prior draw data to generate a coordinated package. The workflow can include the G702, G703, invoice, and standard lien waivers from one calculation source, so Line 8 and the continuation-sheet totals stay aligned.
A practical workflow
Upload the contract PDF. Confirm the extracted contract sum, retainage treatment, billing period, required forms, and waiver type.
Review the schedule of values. Correct any line-item descriptions or values before preparing the first draw.
Enter progress. Add current percent complete and stored-material information from field records or approved manual entries.
Generate the package. Produce matching G702 and G703 forms, the invoice, and applicable waivers for signature.
Review before sending. Check dates, retainage, prior payments, and the current amount due.
The value is less about producing a prettier PDF and more about removing repeated rekeying. Drawra users report around 60% time savings on monthly billings, a figure stated in the publisher's product information. The system's single math engine is intended to keep the invoice total, G702 Line 8, G703 totals, and waiver amounts consistent.
Review still matters. Automation can carry incorrect contract data forward if nobody verifies the extraction, schedule of values, stored-material eligibility, or approved change orders. The practical advantage is that the team checks one controlled data set instead of reconciling several disconnected files. Contractors can review the Drawra pay-app builder when they want to compare that workflow with manual templates or spreadsheets.
Quick Reference Checklist for Your Next Draw
Run this checklist before the package reaches the architect or general contractor:
Contract sum: Confirm the original amount matches the executed agreement.
Change orders: Verify every included addition or deduction is approved and reflected in the schedule of values.
G703 subtotal: Confirm completed work and stored materials support the G702 total.
Retainage base: Check that the percentage and treatment match the contract for each applicable category.
Prior certificates: Carry forward the last certified amount, not an informal payment record.
Line 8: Recalculate current payment due from the earned amount less prior certificates.
Certification: Obtain the contractor's signature, architect or certifier signature where required, and notarization if required.
Dates: Confirm the current period follows the prior billing period without a gap or overlap.
Supporting documents: Include the G703, current invoice, required conditional or unconditional waivers, and stored-material documentation when applicable.
Final PDF review: Open the completed file and confirm Line 8 matches the G703-supported amount to the cent.
A clean G702 is the result of a controlled billing process. If you're tired of retyping totals across the G702, G703, invoice, and waivers, visit Drawra to create a coordinated construction pay-application package from your contract data. Start with your next draw, verify the extracted requirements, and submit documents that agree before the reviewer has to ask for corrections.