Looking for an LCPtracker Alternative for IRA Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Compliance?

Updated November 2026.

LCPtracker is a well-known name in certified payroll. Clean energy projects claiming the IRA's prevailing wage and apprenticeship (PWA) bonus credit have a different job to do, though. Their question is not only "did every contractor submit a certified payroll?" It is "will this project's tax credit survive an IRS examination, and what will it cost to cure if it doesn't?" This guide explains the difference and what to look for in a tool built for the second question.

Certified payroll compliance and tax credit compliance are different jobs

• Certified payroll collection is the classic Davis-Bacon workflow. Subcontractors upload payroll after it runs, the system checks it against wage determinations, and an agency or prime contractor reviews it. The goal is a complete, accurate set of WH-347s.
• IRA tax credit compliance is wider. The IRS does not require the WH-347, or any particular form. It requires records showing that every laborer and mechanic, at every contractor tier, was paid the prevailing wage, and that the project met three separate apprenticeship tests. When something is missed, the taxpayer has to calculate and pay backpay, interest and penalties to keep the credit. The goal is a credit that holds up in an examination or a tax equity review.

What to look for in an IRA PWA compliance platform

1. Checks before payroll closes. An underpayment caught before payday costs nothing to fix. One caught in a year-end audit can cost a $5,000 per worker penalty on top of backpay.
2. Backpay, interest and penalties, calculated for you. Interest runs at the IRS quarterly rate plus 6 points, and the $5,000 per worker penalty can be waived only if the correction is made on time. The tool should show both as payroll runs.
3. All three apprenticeship tests. Labor hours across the project, the daily apprentice-to-journeyworker ratio, and participation by each contractor with four or more workers.
4. Good Faith Effort records. Requests to apprenticeship programs, with proof of sending and the response, reducing the required apprentice hours when they qualify.
5. Every contractor tier in one view. The taxpayer is responsible for subcontractors at every tier, so the owner needs to see them all.
6. Evidence a credit buyer can review. Wage determinations, payroll, classifications, corrections and apprenticeship records, exportable for a tax equity investor or transfer buyer.
7. Clear pricing. Know whether the owner, the prime or each subcontractor pays, and how cost grows with headcount.

How DSPTCH compares

DSPTCH is built for IRA tax credit compliance on clean energy projects, and for state programs such as NY-SUN, Illinois Shines, CA SURGE and Oregon BOLI.

• Before payroll closes: DSPTCH calculates each worker's prevailing wage obligation and flags shortfalls per pay period.
• Connects to your payroll: 200+ payroll systems, so contractors keep the payroll they already run.
• Live exposure: backpay, interest at the IRS quarterly rate, and penalties for every worker and contractor.
• Apprenticeship: labor hours, daily ratios and participation, with Good Faith Effort requests recorded against each job.
• Certified payroll: WH-347s generated from payroll data when you need them.
• Pricing: published at $120 per field user per month, with administrative users included.

See how DSPTCH works, or estimate your exposure with the free PWA penalties calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is LCPtracker required for IRA prevailing wage compliance?

No. The IRA does not require any particular software, or even the WH-347 form. It requires records that show workers were paid prevailing wages and that the apprenticeship requirements were met. Some agencies and owners require LCPtracker on their own contracts.

What is the difference between certified payroll software and IRA compliance software?

Certified payroll software collects and checks weekly payroll reports. IRA compliance software also tracks apprenticeship requirements and calculates the backpay, interest and penalties needed to cure a failure and keep the tax credit.

Do I need software for IRA prevailing wage compliance?

The IRS requires records of each worker's classification, hours, wages, fringe benefits and the applicable wage determination, kept for every contractor and subcontractor. Software is not required, but tracking this by hand across many contractors is where most underpayments go unnoticed.

This article is not legal or tax advice. LCPtracker is a trademark of its owner, and DSPTCH is not affiliated with it.