What is the AIA G702?
The AIA G702 is the standard Application and Certificate for Payment form published by the American Institute of Architects. It's the cover sheet submitted by a contractor requesting payment — signed by the contractor, reviewed by the architect or owner's representative, and certified when payment is approved.
The G702 always travels with a G703 Continuation Sheet (the schedule of values). The G702 summarizes the totals; the G703 breaks them down line by line. Any meaningful audit of a pay application focuses on the G703 — the G702 is only as good as the data it's summarizing.
The G702/G703 system is used on most commercial construction projects in the United States. It's the universal language of construction payment — understanding it is essential for anyone who reviews, certifies, or funds contractor pay applications.
G702 fields explained
Project name, location, and AIA project number. Should match the contract exactly.
Legal entity names. These define who is certifying and who is receiving payment.
Date the original construction contract was executed. Not the pay app date.
Sequential pay application number. Must match the G703 continuation sheet header.
The last date of the billing period covered by this application.
Original contract sum plus all approved change orders. Must match the G703 Column A total.
Total of all prior architect's certifications. Must match the prior pay app's certified amount.
The amount being requested this period — Work Completed + Stored Materials − Retainage − Previously Certified.
Contract Sum − Total Completed and Stored to Date. Tells the reviewer how much is left.
Amount withheld as retainage on both completed work and stored materials.
The G702 math — the key formula
The G702 cover sheet contains one critical formula that reviewers must verify:
If this formula doesn't hold, the pay application has a cover sheet math error. These errors are surprisingly common — and they almost always favor the contractor. Verify it on every application before certifying.
The "Total Completed + Stored to Date" figure comes from the G703. If the G703 has been manipulated — through front-loading, stored materials overbilling, or inflated completion percentages — the G702 cover sheet will reflect those errors even if its own arithmetic is correct.
Who certifies the G702 — and what that means
On most projects, the architect of record certifies the G702 by signing the "Architect's Certificate for Payment" section. The architect certifies that the work has progressed to the point indicated and that the amount applied for is properly due.
This certification carries professional liability. An architect who certifies a G702 containing material overbilling has certified a false document. In disputes, courts treat the architect's certification as a professional opinion — not just a signature. Certifying without adequate review of the G703 schedule of values is the source of most architect liability in construction payment disputes.
On projects without architect involvement — direct owner-to-GC contracts, commercial real estate construction loans — the owner's representative or lender's inspector takes on this certification role, with the same liability exposure.
The five most common G702/G703 errors
Cover sheet math doesn't reconcile
The Current Payment Due doesn't equal (Total Completed + Stored) − Retainage − Previously Certified. Check this first — it takes 60 seconds and catches clerical errors before anything else.
Previously Certified doesn't match the prior pay app
The Previously Certified field on the current G702 should exactly match the Total Certified on the prior pay app. If it's different, either the prior pay app was amended (uncommon) or this application is based on a number the reviewer didn't actually certify.
Stored materials without documentation
Column E on the G703 (Stored Materials) is filled in but no supporting documentation — AIA G706A, delivery receipts, storage certificates, insurance confirmation — accompanies the application. This is the most common high-dollar individual error on construction pay applications.
Retainage applied at wrong percentage
The retainage percentage in Column J of the G703 doesn't match the contract. Either the wrong rate is applied from the start, or the reduced retainage threshold has been hit early (the contractor applies 5% when the contract says 10% until 50% completion).
Completion percentages aren't supported by field observation
G703 completion percentages are contractor-reported estimates. Without a site visit or inspector's report, there's no independent basis for the percentages shown. Certifying based on contractor-reported progress without any field verification is the most common pathway to overbilling certification.
How to review a G702/G703 before certifying
A minimal G702/G703 review before certification should include:
- 01
Verify the G702 math: Current Payment Due = (Completed + Stored) − Retainage − Previously Certified
- 02
Check that Previously Certified matches the last certified pay app
- 03
Verify the G703 Column A total equals the current contract sum
- 04
Spot-check 3-5 retainage calculations in Column J
- 05
Review all Column E (Stored Materials) claims and confirm documentation is attached
- 06
Assess completion percentages against any site observation or inspector report
- 07
Flag any line items showing round-number completion that looks inconsistent with the project phase
A thorough review of all retainage calculations across a 20-line G703 adds another 20–30 minutes. The only way to skip that time without skipping the check is to automate it.
G702 vs. G703: which one matters more?
The G702 is the document you sign. The G703 is the document that determines whether your signature is defensible.
Most certification disputes come down to questions about the G703 — were the completion percentages supportable? Were the stored materials documented? Was the retainage correct? The G702 cover sheet is a summary that's only as reliable as the line items behind it.
Architects and owner's representatives who focus their review on the G702 headline numbers — without auditing the G703 schedule of values — are certifying without a basis. The G703 is where the work is, and it's where the overbilling is.
Audit your G703 before you certify the G702
XOPON audits the G703 schedule of values in 60 seconds — retainage math, stored materials analysis, front-loading detection, completion percentage anomalies, and arithmetic verification. Get a full forensic report with exact dollar amounts before you sign.