What Is AIA G702, Tips for Filling Out, and How to Automate with AI

What Is the AIA G702 Form?

The AIA G702 is a standard one-page summary form used in construction for a contractor to request a progress payment and for an architect to certify the amount due. This standardized application for payment is used across the industry, often alongside the G703 continuation sheet, to request contractor reimbursements.

But here’s the problem: processing these pay apps manually is slow, error-prone, and costly. In this post, we’ll break down what a G702 is, how to fill out AIA G702 forms, why it causes delays, and how Kolena uses AI automation to simplify the entire process.

The G702 summarizes:

• Contract value: the original contract sum plus net changes from approved change orders.
• Previous payments: amounts already certified on prior applications.
• Current amount requested: the exact payment due for this billing period.
• Retainage held: the percentage withheld until the work is complete.
• Remaining contract balance: the value left to finish on the contract.

Key sections of the G702 form:

• General information: project name, owner, contractor, architect, application number, and billing period dates.
• Contract summary: the original contract sum, net changes from approved change orders, and the updated contract total.
• Work and retainage math: total completed and stored materials, less retainage and previous certificates, to reach the current payment due.
• Signatures and certification: a notarized contractor signature area, plus a section for the architect or owner to review, sign, and certify the amount.

This is part of a series of articles about Contractor Pay App.

What Is a G702 Used For?

A G702 has one job: to move money on a construction project. The contractor uses it to apply for payment covering a specific billing period, and the architect uses the same page to certify the amount actually due. The owner then pays the contractor directly against that certified amount, which is why the document works as both an application and a certificate.

In day-to-day use, four groups rely on it:

• Contractors and subcontractors: apply for progress payments and document what was completed and stored during the period.
• Architects and owners: review the math, certify the amount due, and authorize release of payment.
• Accounting teams: use the certified amount as the basis for the invoice and the ERP entry.
• Lenders and sureties: treat the certified totals as evidence of progress before funding a draw.

One detail that catches teams out: the certificate is not negotiable, and the certified amount is payable only to the contractor named on the form.

G702 Meaning in Construction Billing

The G702 meaning is easiest to unpack from the document code itself. AIA stands for the American Institute of Architects, and the G series of AIA Contract Documents covers contract administration and project management forms. Within that series, 702 is the number assigned to the Application and Certificate for Payment. The edition still in use today is G702-1992, a form whose copyright lineage runs back to 1953.

So when a general contractor asks a subcontractor to "send over the G702," the working meaning is narrower than the official title: it is the one-page summary cover sheet for a pay application, with the G703 continuation sheet behind it carrying the line-item detail.

Key Sections of the G702 Form

The G702 organizes payment information into a few key sections:

• General information: identifies the project name, owner, contractor, architect, application number, and billing period dates.
• Contract summary: tracks the original contract sum, net changes from approved change orders, and the updated contract total.
• Work and retainage math: computes the total completed and stored materials, subtracts retainage percentages, accounts for previous certificates, and calculates the exact current payment due.
• Signatures and certification: includes a notarized contractor signature area verifying accuracy, and a dedicated section for the architect or owner to review, sign, and certify the final amount.

How to Fill Out AIA G702 Forms (Key Fields)

Lines 1-3: Contract Sum, Change Orders, Contract Sum to Date

Line 1 shows the original contract sum before any approved changes. Line 2 records the net value of approved change orders, including both additions and deductions.

Line 3 combines those figures to show the current contract sum. This amount should match the latest approved contract value and serve as the basis for the remaining payment calculations on the form.

Line 4: Total Completed and Stored to Date

Line 4 reports the cumulative value of work completed plus eligible materials that have been stored for the project. The amount is typically carried over from the corresponding total on the G703 continuation sheet.

This is a cumulative figure, meaning it includes work and stored materials from both the current billing period and all previous periods. Teams should verify that the G702 total matches the supporting schedule of values before submitting the pay application.

Line 5: Retainage on Work and Stored Materials

Line 5 calculates the amount being withheld as retainage. The contract may apply one retainage percentage to completed work and a different percentage to stored materials, so the form provides separate fields for each.

The applicable retainage percentages should follow the contract requirements. The two retainage amounts are then added together to determine the total amount withheld from payment.

Lines 6-7: Total Earned Less Retainage, Less Previous Certificates

Line 6 calculates the amount earned after retainage is deducted from the total completed and stored to date. In simple terms, it shows how much of the completed work is currently payable before accounting for previous payments.

Line 7 then subtracts the total amount previously certified for payment. This prevents work from being billed twice and isolates the amount associated with the current payment application.

Lines 8-9: Current Payment Due and Balance to Finish

Line 8 shows the current payment due for the billing period. It represents the amount the contractor is requesting after accounting for completed work, retainage, and previously certified payments.

Line 9 shows the balance remaining to finish the contract, including retainage. It helps owners, contractors, and project teams understand how much contract value remains unpaid after the current application.

Signature, Notarization, and Architect's Certificate

After completing the payment calculations, the contractor signs the application and certifies that the information is accurate, that the work covered by previous payments has been paid as required, and that the current amount requested is due under the contract. Depending on the project and form requirements, the contractor's signature may also need to be notarized.

The architect then reviews the application and supporting documentation. If the request is approved, the architect completes the Certificate for Payment section and certifies the amount considered properly due. That certified amount may be the same as, or lower than, the amount originally requested by the contractor.

G702 vs. a Standard Contractor Invoice

Although the G702 functions as a request for payment, it is more structured than a standard contractor invoice. A typical invoice states what is owed for goods or services during a billing period, while the G702 ties the payment request to the overall construction contract and tracks cumulative progress.

Key differences include:

• Contract-based billing: The G702 shows the original contract value, approved change orders, revised contract sum, and remaining balance.
• Cumulative progress tracking: It accounts for work completed in both the current and previous billing periods rather than showing only the latest charges.
• Retainage calculations: The form explicitly calculates amounts withheld as retainage before determining the current payment due.
• Architect certification: The contractor submits the application, but the architect or other designated certifier reviews it and determines the amount approved for payment.
• Supporting schedule of values: The G702 is commonly paired with the G703, which breaks the contract into individual work items and shows progress for each one.
• Standardized format: Unlike ordinary invoices, which can vary widely between contractors, the G702 provides a consistent format that owners, architects, lenders, and accounting teams can review from one billing cycle to the next.

In practice, the G702 does not necessarily replace the contractor's accounting invoice. Some organizations still create a separate invoice in their ERP or accounting system after the G702 payment application has been reviewed and certified.

AIA G702 vs G703: What’s the Difference?

The AIA G702 and G703 are typically used together, but they serve different purposes in the construction payment process. The G702 is the summary payment application, while the G703 provides the detailed breakdown behind that request.

The main differences are:

• G702: Summarizes the overall contract value, approved change orders, completed work, retainage, previous payments, current payment due, and remaining contract balance.
• G703: Breaks the project into individual schedule-of-values line items and shows how much work has been completed and billed for each item.
• Level of detail: The G702 gives owners and architects a high-level financial snapshot, while the G703 shows where those totals come from.
• Payment calculation: Totals from the G703 are carried forward to the G702, where retainage and previous certificates are applied to calculate the current amount due.
• Review process: Reviewers can use the G702 to confirm the overall payment request and the G703 to verify progress at the individual work-item level.

For example, the G703 might show separate line items for concrete, electrical work, roofing, and HVAC. The cumulative total from those line items is then reflected on the G702 as the total completed and stored to date.

In practice, the two forms function as a package: the G703 supports the calculations, and the G702 serves as the formal application and certificate for payment.

Common Mistakes That Get G702 Applications Rejected

Even small inconsistencies can cause a G702 payment application to be returned for correction or delay approval. Common mistakes include:

• Math errors: Incorrect totals, retainage calculations, or previous payment amounts can make the current payment due inaccurate.
• G702 and G703 totals do not match: The summary figures on the G702 should reconcile with the supporting schedule of values on the G703.
• Unapproved change orders are included: Adding pending or disputed change orders to the contract sum can cause the application to be rejected.
• Incorrect retainage percentage: Applying the wrong percentage, or reducing retainage without authorization, can distort the amount due.
• Previously certified amounts are entered incorrectly: Line 7 should reflect prior certificates for payment accurately to avoid duplicate billing.
• Stored materials lack documentation: Owners or architects may reject amounts for stored materials when invoices, delivery records, insurance, or other required evidence is missing.
• Billing exceeds the schedule of values: A line item should not generally be billed beyond its approved value unless the contract or schedule has been formally adjusted.
• Incomplete signatures or notarization: Missing contractor signatures, dates, notarization, or architect certification can prevent the application from being processed.
• Wrong application number or billing period: Inconsistent application numbers or dates can create confusion and break the payment history.
• Unsupported percentage of completion: Billing progress that cannot be supported by actual work completed may be reduced during review.

A good practice is to reconcile the G702 against the G703, approved change orders, prior payment applications, and supporting documentation before submission. Catching discrepancies internally is usually much faster than correcting them after the owner or architect begins review.

Still Processing G702 Manually? Hidden Costs and Challenges

Manual G702 processing may appear inexpensive because it relies on spreadsheets, PDFs, and email, but it often creates significant administrative overhead. Each payment application must be prepared, checked against the G703, matched to prior certificates, reviewed for change orders, and corrected when discrepancies are found.

Common hidden costs include:

• Administrative labor: Project managers, accountants, and billing teams spend time entering data, checking formulas, and reconciling payment applications.
• Duplicate data entry: The same information may need to be entered into spreadsheets, PDF forms, accounting software, and ERP systems.
• Calculation errors: Manual formulas increase the risk of mistakes in retainage, change orders, previous payments, and balances to finish.
• Rework and resubmissions: A small mismatch between the G702 and G703 can require another review cycle and delay approval.
• Slow approval cycles: Email-based workflows make it harder to see who has reviewed a pay application, what is still missing, and where approval is blocked.
• Version-control problems: Multiple spreadsheet and PDF copies can make it unclear which payment application is current.
• Delayed cash flow: Errors and slow approvals can postpone payments, increasing working-capital pressure on contractors and subcontractors.
• Poor auditability: Tracking approvals, supporting documents, and historical changes is more difficult when records are spread across inboxes and shared folders.

As project volume grows, these costs can compound across dozens or hundreds of payment applications. Automating calculations, document collection, approvals, and accounting handoffs can reduce manual work while making the G702 process easier to track and audit.

Kolena Automates AIA G702 Reviews with AI

Kolena’s AI-powered platform takes the pain out of pay application reviews. Here’s how:

• Extracts values from submitted G702 forms (PDF or Excel)
• Cross-verifies totals with prior payments and the linked G703
• Validates retainage, math, and certifications
• Flags anomalies or missing fields
• Sends structured output to your systems for approval or ERP entry

Kolena’s AI agents act like digital reviewers that never miss a number. The result:

• Reviews take minutes, not hours
• Accuracy goes up
• Fewer payment disputes or back-and-forth emails

“Kolena clients report reducing average review time from 3.5 hours to just 8 minutes.“

Review a Complete PayApp in Minutes with AI

Kolena's free AI agent analyzes your PayApp in minutes. Upload all G702/G703 forms and let the AI check general contractor and subcontractor submissions for consistency and completeness.

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Get Paid Faster with Kolena

The AIA G702 is essential, but it should not slow your project down. With Kolena, you can:

• Reduce manual errors
• Accelerate approvals
• Free up project managers from admin work

Want to see Kolena in action? Schedule a demo now.