G702 line-by-line plain English

G702 Line-by-Line Explanation

Quick answer:

The G702 is the summary page of the pay application. It shows the contract sum, approved changes, earned to date, retainage, previous payments, and the amount due now.

In plain English: the G703 shows the line-item math, and the G702 summarizes it. If the summary does not tie to the continuation sheet, reviewers usually stop the approval.

The G702 is the summary cover sheet that rolls up totals from your continuation detail (your G703/SOV). Reviewers don’t want “close enough.” They want totals that tie out cleanly, every month.

PayAppPro outputs are AIA-style only and are not licensed AIA documents. AIA®, G702® and G703® are registered trademarks of the American Institute of Architects.
Need the big-picture workflow first? Start with the AIA billing guide or the AIA billing glossary.
Generate a Pay App – $7.99 G703 Hub G702 Hub

Why the G702 gets so much scrutiny

The G702 looks simple compared to the continuation sheet, but this is usually the page a reviewer looks at first. It is the summary page that answers the big questions:

  • What is the contract sum right now?
  • How much has been earned to date?
  • How much retainage is being held?
  • How much was previously paid?
  • What is due now?

If the G702 looks wrong, reviewers often assume the package behind it is wrong too. That is why this page works best when used alongside your full preparation workflow: How to Fill Out G702/G703, the broader Construction Payment Application Guide, and the rejection checklist.

Simple rule: if the G702 does not tell the same story as the G703, SOV, prior applications, and backup documents, you are giving the reviewer a reason to stop the approval.
Quick links: How to Fill Out G702/G703 · G702 vs G703 · What Is a G702? · Filled-Out Example · Glossary
Jump to: What the G702 does · Tie-out checks · Line-by-line · Common mistakes · FAQ

What the G702 Actually Does

Think of the G702 as the “owner-friendly” summary of your pay application. It answers:

  • What’s the contract value right now, including approved change orders?
  • How much work has been completed and stored to date?
  • How much retainage is being withheld?
  • How much has been paid previously?
  • What’s due on this application?
Key concept: The G702 is only as good as the numbers feeding it. Those numbers come from the G703 continuation sheet and your Schedule of Values (SOV).
If you need the broader monthly workflow behind those numbers, see Construction Progress Billing (Explained).

The Tie-Out Checks Reviewers Use

Before we go line-by-line, here are the checks that catch most problems:

  • G702 totals match G703 totals (completed & stored to date, retainage, amount due).
  • SOV total equals current contract sum (original contract + approved change orders).
  • Previous totals do not change month-to-month (this month’s “previous” equals last month’s “to date”).
  • No line item has to-date > scheduled value unless the scheduled value was updated via approved CO.
  • Stored materials are backed up and don’t magically stay “stored” forever.
Run this together with the G702/G703 rejection checklist if you want a faster “before you submit” pass.

G702 Line-by-Line (Plain English)

Note: Exact labeling can vary by project templates. The logic is the same: contract value → earned → retainage → prior payments → amount due.

Lines 1–3: Contract Value

  • Line 1 – Original Contract Sum: the starting dollar amount in the executed contract or subcontract.
  • Line 2 – Net Change by Change Orders: the total of approved change orders, including adds and deductions.
  • Line 3 – Contract Sum to Date: line 1 + line 2. This must match the total scheduled value of your SOV.
Related: How to add change orders to G702/G703 · How to bill change orders

Lines 4–5: Work Completed & Stored

  • Line 4 – Total Completed & Stored to Date: cumulative installed work + materials stored, if the contract allows them. This should tie to the G703 totals.
  • Line 5 – % of Completion: line 4 ÷ line 3. It’s a sanity check, not a substitute for line-item support.
Related: How to bill stored materials · Stored materials ledger tracking

Line 6: Retainage

Retainage is the amount withheld per contract terms. Where people get into trouble is applying it inconsistently: by line item one month, then summary-only the next, or applying it differently to stored materials.

  • Line 6 – Retainage: the withheld amount based on contract rules, percentages, exclusions, and releases.
Related: What is retainage? · How to calculate retainage on G702/G703

Line 7: Earned Less Retainage

  • Line 7 – Total Earned Less Retainage: line 4 minus line 6. This is the earned value after withholding.

Line 8: Previous Payments

  • Line 8 – Less Previous Certificates for Payment: total of prior approved payments or certificates.
Reviewer tip: this number should never change unless there was a correction to payment history.

Line 9: Payment Due This Application

  • Line 9 – Payment Due: line 7 minus line 8. This is the amount you’re requesting now.
Most common kickback: Line 9 doesn’t tie to the G703 totals or the waiver amounts don’t match the requested amount.

Line 10: Balance to Finish

  • Line 10 – Balance to Finish: line 3 minus line 4. It’s a contract-level “what’s left” number.

Common G702 Mistakes That Trigger Rejections

  • Contract sum mismatch: change orders approved but not reflected in line 2/3 and the SOV.
  • G702/G703 mismatch: summary totals don’t match the continuation sheet totals.
  • Previous totals changed: someone edited a prior month number.
  • Retainage inconsistency: retainage applied differently month-to-month.
  • Stored materials confusion: billed without backup or never reduced when installed.
Related: Common G702/G703 Errors (and how to avoid them) · Rejection checklist

How PayAppPro Helps (Without Spreadsheet Drama)

  • Keeps your SOV, previous totals, and current period entries tied together
  • Rolls G703 line totals into a clean G702-style summary automatically
  • Helps prevent over-billing beyond scheduled values
  • Reduces “revise and resubmit” errors caused by broken formulas
  • Tracks stored materials and supporting history more cleanly across billing periods
Create a Pay App That Ties Out

AIA-style outputs. Built-in checks. Fewer kickbacks.

FAQ

Yes. The G702 is a rollup. If your G702 totals don’t tie to your G703 or SOV totals, reviewers typically kick it back.

Start with the SOV total versus contract sum, including approved change orders. Then confirm previous totals carry forward unchanged, and finally tie the G703 totals into the G702 summary.

Sometimes. It depends on the contract and reviewer rules. The key is to apply the same rule consistently every billing period and keep backup for stored materials.

Start with the AIA billing guide, then use How to Fill Out G702/G703 for the practical step-by-step process.

Start with what stored materials are in construction, then read how to bill stored materials. If you need the tracking side, see the stored materials ledger guide.