How to Fill Out AIA-Style G702 & G703 Pay Applications
If you’re new to AIA-style billing—or just want a cleaner way to handle it—this walkthrough breaks down the G702 and G703 in plain English. No legal jargon, no overthinking.
Want the big-picture overview first? Read the AIA billing guide. Need definitions? See the glossary.
Want to jump straight in? Start for $7.99.
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.
Not sure what you’re trying to submit?
This page is the how-to walkthrough. If you want the “what is it / when do I use it” spine pages, start here: AIA billing guide, then the hubs: G702 hub and G703 hub.
Fill out your G703 continuation sheet first (SOV + progress + stored + retainage). Then your G702 summary pulls totals from the G703 and subtracts prior payments to get the payment due.
- Original contract sum + a list of approved change orders
- Your latest approved Schedule of Values (SOV)
- Last month’s pay app (to carry forward prior totals correctly)
- Retainage terms (rate + whether it applies to stored materials) — see retainage math
- Backup requirements (stored materials docs, lien waivers, etc.)
What Are AIA G702 and G703 Forms?
On many commercial projects, the billing conversation boils down to two documents: the G702-style summary (what’s due) and the G703-style continuation sheet (how you got the number). Owners, GCs, architects, and lenders like this format because it’s consistent and easy to review.
The G702 is the cover sheet: contract value, approved changes, total completed & stored to date, retainage, prior payments, and the current payment due. The G703 is the line-by-line detail based on your Schedule of Values (SOV).
Want to see what “completed” looks like?
Here’s a read-only example of a completed AIA-style G702 summary + G703 continuation sheet with realistic values.
Step-by-Step: Completing Your Pay Application
This is the monthly workflow most contractors and subcontractors follow.
Step 2: Build (or verify) your Schedule of Values (G703)
Your SOV is the backbone. Each scope becomes a line item with a scheduled value. Keep item numbers and descriptions consistent from pay app #1 through closeout.
Step 3: Carry forward prior totals (don’t reinvent history)
Your “previously completed” columns should match last month’s “total completed and stored to date.” If these don’t line up, you’re inviting a kickback.
Step 4: Enter “this period” progress by line item
On each SOV line, enter work completed this period and confirm the line stays within its scheduled value. Avoid retroactively changing prior values unless you’re correcting a documented error.
Step 5: Bill stored materials (only if allowed + with backup)
Stored materials may be allowed, but usually require backup: invoices, photos, storage location, and sometimes insurance. Many reviewers also require materials to be onsite.
Step 6: Apply retainage consistently
Retainage is often 5–10% and may apply differently to work in place vs stored materials. Whatever the contract says—apply it the same way every month so your history ties out.
Step 7: Complete the G702 summary (payment due)
The G702 pulls totals from your continuation sheet: total completed & stored to date, retainage, prior payments, and the current payment due. If the G702 and G703 don’t match, expect a kickback.
Tie-Out Rules Reviewers Actually Check
You can do everything “right” and still get kicked back if the tie-outs aren’t clean. This is what gets eyeballed on review calls.
- G702 totals tie to G703 totals (no drift)
- Last month’s “to date” equals this month’s “previous”
- No line exceeds scheduled value (to-date ≤ scheduled value)
- Stored materials have backup and don’t get double-counted when installed
- Retainage is applied consistently with contract terms
If you’re here because you’re on a deadline…
Use the hubs for the exact workflow + common rejection points, then generate a clean AIA-style output.
Backup Documents Commonly Submitted With Pay Apps
Requirements vary by GC/owner/lender, but these are common. If you bill stored materials, backups matter even more.
Lien waivers
Conditional waivers are common with the application; unconditional waivers are commonly requested after payment clears.
Stored materials backup
Invoices/receipts, photos, storage location, and (sometimes) proof of insurance. Some reviewers require onsite storage.
Approved change orders
If the contract sum changed, have the approval trail ready. “Pending” changes often trigger review delays.
Project-specific requirements
Insurance certs, certified payroll, DBE forms, sworn statements, closeout docs—whatever your project requires.
How PayAppPro Helps
PayAppPro keeps your SOV, retainage, stored materials, and roll-forward totals consistent across billing periods and generates clean PDFs.
AIA-style output
Generate G702/G703-style PDFs that are clean, readable, and ready to submit.
Automatic roll-forward
Prior totals carry forward so you don’t “accidentally rewrite history” each month.
Guardrails
Built-in checks help prevent overbilling, retainage drift, and mismatched totals.
FAQ: G702 & G703 Pay Applications
Quick answers for common “right before the deadline” questions.
G702 is the payment summary (totals, retainage, amount due). G703 is the continuation sheet that lists your Schedule of Values line items and the math that rolls up into the G702.
Not always. Many projects accept AIA-style pay applications that follow the same structure and calculations, but you should confirm your contract requirements with the GC/owner.
Retainage is typically a percentage withheld from completed work (and sometimes stored materials, depending on contract terms). Apply the retainage rate to the appropriate amounts and subtract it from the payment due.
Often yes, but it depends on contract terms. Stored materials may require backup like invoices, photos, and proof of storage/insurance, and some owners require materials to be onsite.
Common causes include formula errors, change orders not reflected in the Schedule of Values, inconsistent retainage handling, and incorrect previous-period totals carried forward.
Typical backups include lien waivers, stored material invoices/receipts, change order approvals, and any project-specific documentation the GC/owner requires.
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