The first page of the document DocMake makes from the sample values on this page.
Finance
Payment Application
A payment application is a contractor asking to be paid for work done up to a valuation date. It is not an invoice. An invoice states an agreed amount, whereas an application states a valuation that the other side may agree, reduce or notice against, and only becomes payable once that process has run. Getting the two confused is how a subcontractor ends up chasing a sum nobody ever certified.
The valuation has a fixed shape: measured work to date by section, approved variations, materials delivered but not yet fixed, then retention taken off, then everything previously certified taken off, leaving the amount now due. Every one of those lines is a place where money gets lost. Materials on site usually attract no retention and often need proof of title and insurance. Variations only belong in the gross valuation once they are approved, and a change still being priced sits in a note rather than in the total.
Dates are the part that decides whether the number gets paid. In the United Kingdom the Construction Act regime hangs a set of deadlines off the payment due date: the payer has to give a payment notice within five days of it, a pay less notice has to arrive before the prescribed period ends, and where neither turns up, the sum applied for can become the notified sum. Printing the due date, the final date for payment and the notice deadlines on the face of the application is not decoration, it is the audit trail. Contracts elsewhere have their own timetable, and the template carries the dates rather than assuming them.
Retention deserves its own block. What percentage is held, how much is held in total, what the sectional completion certificates release and when the balance falls due at the end of the defects liability period are the numbers a subcontractor is still chasing two years after leaving site. Rendering the application from JSON lets the cost system produce a numbered PDF for each period, keep the previously certified figure tied to the last certificate rather than the last application, and carry the same valuation into the payment notice without retyping a line.
Blanks to fill
| application_number | Application number |
| application_date | Application date |
| valuation_date | Valuation date |
| period_covered | Period covered |
| project_name | Project |
| project_number | Project number |
| site_address | Site address |
| applicant | Applicant |
| applicant_address | Applicant address |
| applicant_contact | Applicant contact |
| payer | Payer |
| payer_contact | Payer contact |
| contract_title | Contract |
| contract_date | Contract date |
| original_contract_sum | Original contract sum |
| approved_variations | Approved changes to date |
| adjusted_contract_sum | Adjusted contract sum |
| measured_work_total | Measured work to date |
| variations_total | Changes to date |
| materials_total | Materials on site |
| gross_valuation | Gross valuation |
| retention_this_valuation | Retention held |
| value_after_retention | Value after retention |
| previously_certified | Already certified |
| net_amount_due | Net amount now due |
| tax_amount | Tax |
| total_due | Total now due |
| retention_rate | Retention rate |
| tax_rate | Tax rate |
| retention_basis | How retention is worked out |
| retention_release_note | When retention is released |
| previously_certified_reference | Last certificate |
| due_date | Payment due date |
| payment_notice_deadline | Payment notice due by |
| pay_less_notice_deadline | Notice to pay less due by |
| final_date_for_payment | Final date for payment |
| notice_note | How the notice dates work |
| pending_items | What this application leaves out |
| payment_details | Payment details |
| attachments | What is attached |
| declaration | Declaration |
| prepared_by | Prepared by |
| sections[] | One per item, so a row is added for every item in the list |
| variations[] | One per item, so a row is added for every item in the list |
| materials_on_site[] | One per item, so a row is added for every item in the list |
The data behind the preview
This is the exact JSON that produced the document above. Change the values, POST them to the API, and you get your version back as DOCX or PDF. Lists grow and shrink with your data; the layout adapts.
- 01 Sign up free and duplicate this template into your workspace.
- 02 Adjust the wording and branding in the visual editor.
- 03 Fill it in the app, share it as a form link, or call the API.
{
"application_number": "7",
"application_date": "October 1, 2026",
"valuation_date": "September 30, 2026",
"period_covered": "September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026",
"project_name": "Cascade Street mixed use development",
"project_number": "PRJ-2026-114",
"site_address": "Cascade Street, Portland, OR 97209, United States",
"applicant": "Kestrel Mechanical and Electrical LLC",
"applicant_address": "Unit 7, Riverfront Trade Park, Portland, OR 97210, United States",
"applicant_contact": "Ian Ferris, Contracts Manager, accounts@kestrelme.example",
"payer": "Harbor Build Group",
"payer_contact": "Ceri Hopkins, Quantity Surveyor, Marchmont QS, acting for the payer",
"contract_title": "Mechanical and electrical services subcontract, Cascade Street",
"contract_date": "February 9, 2026",
"original_contract_sum": "$1,842,000.00",
"approved_variations": "$63,415.00",
"adjusted_contract_sum": "$1,905,415.00",
"sections": [
{
"description": "Preliminaries, site set up and supervision",
"contract_value": "$148,000.00",
"percent_complete": "82 percent",
"value_to_date": "$121,360.00"
},
{
"description": "Mechanical services, levels 1 and 2",
"contract_value": "$286,000.00",
"percent_complete": "100 percent",
"value_to_date": "$286,000.00"
},
{
"description": "Mechanical services, levels 3 and 4",
"contract_value": "$302,000.00",
"percent_complete": "96 percent",
"value_to_date": "$289,920.00"
},
{
"description": "Mechanical services, levels 5 and 6",
"contract_value": "$268,000.00",
"percent_complete": "61 percent",
"value_to_date": "$163,480.00"
},
{
"description": "Electrical services, levels 1 to 4",
"contract_value": "$358,000.00",
"percent_complete": "88 percent",
"value_to_date": "$315,040.00"
},
{
"description": "Electrical services, levels 5 and 6",
"contract_value": "$192,000.00",
"percent_complete": "42 percent",
"value_to_date": "$80,640.00"
},
{
"description": "Public health and above ground drainage",
"contract_value": "$172,000.00",
"percent_complete": "68 percent",
"value_to_date": "$116,960.00"
},
{
"description": "Commissioning, testing and handover papers",
"contract_value": "$116,000.00",
"percent_complete": "22 percent",
"value_to_date": "$25,520.00"
}
],
"measured_work_total": "$1,398,920.00",
"variations": [
{
"reference": "CO-001 to CO-016",
"description": "Earlier approved changes, all complete",
"approved_value": "$36,158.60",
"value_to_date": "$36,158.60"
},
{
"reference": "CO-017",
"description": "Extra small power to the level 2 tea point and the meeting rooms",
"approved_value": "$6,850.00",
"value_to_date": "$6,850.00"
},
{
"reference": "CO-018",
"description": "Riser 2 level 4 alteration under transfer beam TB-04, bulkhead and access panel",
"approved_value": "$20,406.40",
"value_to_date": "$9,971.40"
}
],
"variations_total": "$52,980.00",
"materials_on_site": [
{
"description": "Two air handling units for levels 5 and 6, delivered September 22, crated and sheeted",
"stored_at": "Level 5 plant room, inside the building envelope",
"value": "$26,400.00"
},
{
"description": "Distribution boards DB-L5-1 and DB-L6-1, delivered September 25",
"stored_at": "Secure site store, ground floor",
"value": "$9,850.00"
},
{
"description": "Fire rated cable, four drums, delivered September 28",
"stored_at": "Secure site store, ground floor",
"value": "$5,350.00"
}
],
"materials_total": "$41,600.00",
"gross_valuation": "$1,493,500.00",
"retention_rate": "5 percent",
"retention_basis": "Retention is taken on measured work and on approved changes. None is taken on materials on site, which follows clause 32.4 of the subcontract.",
"retention_this_valuation": "$72,595.00",
"value_after_retention": "$1,420,905.00",
"previously_certified": "$1,298,470.00",
"previously_certified_reference": "Payment certificate 6 dated September 4, 2026 certified $1,298,470.00 against application 6 of $1,311,900.00. The difference was noticed and related to the commissioning section.",
"net_amount_due": "$122,435.00",
"tax_rate": "20 percent",
"tax_amount": "$24,487.00",
"total_due": "$146,922.00",
"due_date": "October 21, 2026",
"payment_notice_deadline": "October 26, 2026",
"pay_less_notice_deadline": "November 11, 2026",
"final_date_for_payment": "November 18, 2026",
"notice_note": "The dates above follow the payment terms of the subcontract: a payment notice no later than five days after the payment due date, and any notice to pay less no later than seven days before the final date for payment.",
"retention_release_note": "Of the $72,595.00 held, $23,676.00 belongs to the first sectional completion, levels 3 and 4. Half of that falls due in the valuation after handover certificate HC-2026-0031, and the rest at the end of the defects period for that section.",
"pending_items": "Two changes are priced but not yet approved and are left out: the level 5 riser support revision at $4,180.00 and the extra metering to the landlord supply at $7,940.00. The disputed part of CO-018 is left out until the site review on October 8, 2026.",
"payment_details": "Kestrel Mechanical and Electrical LLC, account 41882207, routing 123006800, quoting PRJ-2026-114 APP7. Bank transfer only. These details have not changed since the contract was signed.",
"attachments": "The valuation build up sheet, delivery notes and vesting certificates for the materials on site, the insurance schedule covering them, and change orders CO-017 and CO-018.",
"prepared_by": "Ian Ferris, Contracts Manager",
"declaration": "The valuation above is work properly carried out and materials properly on site as at the valuation date, and the amounts already certified have been correctly deducted."
}Generate this document via the API
One template plus changing data is the whole point. The list of blanks above is the contract, and every new set of values comes back in the same layout: fill it in the app, hand someone a form link, or POST the JSON and get the file straight back.
The request below carries this page's own values, so it runs as soon as the template exists in your workspace. Swap the values for yours and the response is your document.
curl -X POST https://app.docmake.io/api/v1/render \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $DOCMAKE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Accept: application/json" \
--output payment-application.pdf \
--data-binary @- <<'JSON'
{
"template_id": "tmpl_your_template_id",
"format": "pdf",
"data": {
"application_number": "7",
"application_date": "October 1, 2026",
"valuation_date": "September 30, 2026",
"period_covered": "September 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026",
"project_name": "Cascade Street mixed use development",
"project_number": "PRJ-2026-114",
"site_address": "Cascade Street, Portland, OR 97209, United States",
"applicant": "Kestrel Mechanical and Electrical LLC",
"applicant_address": "Unit 7, Riverfront Trade Park, Portland, OR 97210, United States",
"applicant_contact": "Ian Ferris, Contracts Manager, accounts@kestrelme.example",
"payer": "Harbor Build Group",
"payer_contact": "Ceri Hopkins, Quantity Surveyor, Marchmont QS, acting for the payer",
"contract_title": "Mechanical and electrical services subcontract, Cascade Street",
"contract_date": "February 9, 2026",
"original_contract_sum": "$1,842,000.00",
"approved_variations": "$63,415.00",
"adjusted_contract_sum": "$1,905,415.00",
"sections": [
{
"description": "Preliminaries, site set up and supervision",
"contract_value": "$148,000.00",
"percent_complete": "82 percent",
"value_to_date": "$121,360.00"
},
{
"description": "Mechanical services, levels 1 and 2",
"contract_value": "$286,000.00",
"percent_complete": "100 percent",
"value_to_date": "$286,000.00"
},
{
"description": "Mechanical services, levels 3 and 4",
"contract_value": "$302,000.00",
"percent_complete": "96 percent",
"value_to_date": "$289,920.00"
},
{
"description": "Mechanical services, levels 5 and 6",
"contract_value": "$268,000.00",
"percent_complete": "61 percent",
"value_to_date": "$163,480.00"
},
{
"description": "Electrical services, levels 1 to 4",
"contract_value": "$358,000.00",
"percent_complete": "88 percent",
"value_to_date": "$315,040.00"
},
{
"description": "Electrical services, levels 5 and 6",
"contract_value": "$192,000.00",
"percent_complete": "42 percent",
"value_to_date": "$80,640.00"
},
{
"description": "Public health and above ground drainage",
"contract_value": "$172,000.00",
"percent_complete": "68 percent",
"value_to_date": "$116,960.00"
},
{
"description": "Commissioning, testing and handover papers",
"contract_value": "$116,000.00",
"percent_complete": "22 percent",
"value_to_date": "$25,520.00"
}
],
"measured_work_total": "$1,398,920.00",
"variations": [
{
"reference": "CO-001 to CO-016",
"description": "Earlier approved changes, all complete",
"approved_value": "$36,158.60",
"value_to_date": "$36,158.60"
},
{
"reference": "CO-017",
"description": "Extra small power to the level 2 tea point and the meeting rooms",
"approved_value": "$6,850.00",
"value_to_date": "$6,850.00"
},
{
"reference": "CO-018",
"description": "Riser 2 level 4 alteration under transfer beam TB-04, bulkhead and access panel",
"approved_value": "$20,406.40",
"value_to_date": "$9,971.40"
}
],
"variations_total": "$52,980.00",
"materials_on_site": [
{
"description": "Two air handling units for levels 5 and 6, delivered September 22, crated and sheeted",
"stored_at": "Level 5 plant room, inside the building envelope",
"value": "$26,400.00"
},
{
"description": "Distribution boards DB-L5-1 and DB-L6-1, delivered September 25",
"stored_at": "Secure site store, ground floor",
"value": "$9,850.00"
},
{
"description": "Fire rated cable, four drums, delivered September 28",
"stored_at": "Secure site store, ground floor",
"value": "$5,350.00"
}
],
"materials_total": "$41,600.00",
"gross_valuation": "$1,493,500.00",
"retention_rate": "5 percent",
"retention_basis": "Retention is taken on measured work and on approved changes. None is taken on materials on site, which follows clause 32.4 of the subcontract.",
"retention_this_valuation": "$72,595.00",
"value_after_retention": "$1,420,905.00",
"previously_certified": "$1,298,470.00",
"previously_certified_reference": "Payment certificate 6 dated September 4, 2026 certified $1,298,470.00 against application 6 of $1,311,900.00. The difference was noticed and related to the commissioning section.",
"net_amount_due": "$122,435.00",
"tax_rate": "20 percent",
"tax_amount": "$24,487.00",
"total_due": "$146,922.00",
"due_date": "October 21, 2026",
"payment_notice_deadline": "October 26, 2026",
"pay_less_notice_deadline": "November 11, 2026",
"final_date_for_payment": "November 18, 2026",
"notice_note": "The dates above follow the payment terms of the subcontract: a payment notice no later than five days after the payment due date, and any notice to pay less no later than seven days before the final date for payment.",
"retention_release_note": "Of the $72,595.00 held, $23,676.00 belongs to the first sectional completion, levels 3 and 4. Half of that falls due in the valuation after handover certificate HC-2026-0031, and the rest at the end of the defects period for that section.",
"pending_items": "Two changes are priced but not yet approved and are left out: the level 5 riser support revision at $4,180.00 and the extra metering to the landlord supply at $7,940.00. The disputed part of CO-018 is left out until the site review on October 8, 2026.",
"payment_details": "Kestrel Mechanical and Electrical LLC, account 41882207, routing 123006800, quoting PRJ-2026-114 APP7. Bank transfer only. These details have not changed since the contract was signed.",
"attachments": "The valuation build up sheet, delivery notes and vesting certificates for the materials on site, the insurance schedule covering them, and change orders CO-017 and CO-018.",
"prepared_by": "Ian Ferris, Contracts Manager",
"declaration": "The valuation above is work properly carried out and materials properly on site as at the valuation date, and the amounts already certified have been correctly deducted."
}
}
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claude mcp add docmake \
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-- npx -y @docmake/mcp@latestThen ask for the document in plain words:
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