diff --git a/helpers.py b/helpers.py
index 3f64bf2..858430b 100644
--- a/helpers.py
+++ b/helpers.py
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ PD_SEASON = 9
 FA_LOCK_WEEK = 14
 SBA_COLOR = 'a6ce39'
 
+# Salary cap constants
+DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP = 32.0
+SALARY_CAP_TOLERANCE = 0.001  # Small tolerance for floating point comparisons
+
 SBA_ROSTER_KEY = '1bt7LLJe6h7axkhDVlxJ4f319l8QmFB0zQH-pjM0c8a8'
 SBA_STATS_KEY = '1fnqx2uxC7DT5aTnx4EkXh83crwrL0W6eJefoC1d4KH4'
 SBA_STANDINGS_KEY = '1cXZcPY08RvqV_GeLvZ7PY5-0CyM-AijpJxsaFisZjBc'
@@ -1192,7 +1196,7 @@ def get_team_url(this_team):
 async def send_owner_notification(message: str):
     """
     Send a notification message to the bot owner via Discord webhook.
-    
+
     Args:
         message (str): The message content to send
     """
@@ -1206,3 +1210,39 @@ async def send_owner_notification(message: str):
             await session.post(webhook_url, json=payload)
     except Exception as webhook_error:
         logger.error(f'Failed to send owner notification: {webhook_error}')
+
+
+def get_team_salary_cap(team: dict) -> float:
+    """
+    Get the salary cap for a team, falling back to the default if not set.
+
+    Args:
+        team: Team dictionary containing team data. May have 'salary_cap' field.
+
+    Returns:
+        float: The team's salary cap, or DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP (32.0) if not set.
+
+    Why: Teams may have custom salary caps (e.g., for expansion teams or penalties).
+    This centralizes the fallback logic so all cap checks use the same source of truth.
+    """
+    if team and team.get('salary_cap') is not None:
+        return team['salary_cap']
+    return DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP
+
+
+def exceeds_salary_cap(wara: float, team: dict) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check if a WAR total exceeds the team's salary cap.
+
+    Args:
+        wara: The total WAR value to check
+        team: Team dictionary containing team data
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if wara exceeds the team's salary cap (with tolerance)
+
+    Why: Centralizes the salary cap comparison logic with proper floating point
+    tolerance handling. All cap validation should use this function.
+    """
+    cap = get_team_salary_cap(team)
+    return wara > (cap + SALARY_CAP_TOLERANCE)
diff --git a/salary_cap_refactor_plan.json b/salary_cap_refactor_plan.json
index f7033ff..89da157 100644
--- a/salary_cap_refactor_plan.json
+++ b/salary_cap_refactor_plan.json
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
       "name": "Add salary cap helper function",
       "description": "Create a helper function in helpers.py that retrieves the salary cap for a team, with fallback to default 32.0 for backwards compatibility",
       "files": ["helpers.py"],
-      "lines": null,
+      "lines": [1215, 1248],
       "priority": 1,
-      "completed": false,
+      "completed": true,
       "tested": false,
-      "notes": "This should be done first as other tasks will depend on it"
+      "notes": "Added get_team_salary_cap() and exceeds_salary_cap() functions"
     },
     {
       "id": "SWAR-002",
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@
       "name": "Add default salary cap constant",
       "description": "Define DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP = 32.0 constant in helpers.py for use as fallback when team.salary_cap is None",
       "files": ["helpers.py"],
-      "lines": null,
+      "lines": [30, 31],
       "priority": 1,
-      "completed": false,
+      "completed": true,
       "tested": false,
-      "notes": "Centralized constant for maintainability"
+      "notes": "Added DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP and SALARY_CAP_TOLERANCE constants"
     },
     {
       "id": "SWAR-008",
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@
       "files": ["api_calls/team.py"],
       "lines": [26],
       "priority": 1,
-      "completed": false,
+      "completed": true,
       "tested": false,
-      "notes": "Field already added, need to verify API integration"
+      "notes": "Field exists: salary_cap: Optional[float] = None"
     }
   ],
   "completion_checklist": [
diff --git a/tests/test_salary_cap.py b/tests/test_salary_cap.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a1bf6ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_salary_cap.py
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+"""
+Unit tests for salary cap helper functions in helpers.py.
+
+These tests verify:
+1. get_team_salary_cap() returns correct cap values with fallback behavior
+2. exceeds_salary_cap() correctly identifies when WAR exceeds team cap
+3. Edge cases around None values and floating point tolerance
+
+Why these tests matter:
+- Salary cap validation is critical for league integrity during trades/drafts
+- The helper functions centralize logic previously scattered across cogs
+- Proper fallback behavior ensures backwards compatibility
+"""
+
+import pytest
+from helpers import (
+    DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP,
+    SALARY_CAP_TOLERANCE,
+    get_team_salary_cap,
+    exceeds_salary_cap
+)
+
+
+class TestGetTeamSalaryCap:
+    """Tests for get_team_salary_cap() function."""
+
+    def test_returns_team_salary_cap_when_set(self):
+        """
+        When a team has a custom salary_cap value set, return that value.
+
+        Why: Some teams may have different caps (expansion teams, penalties, etc.)
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 35.0}
+        result = get_team_salary_cap(team)
+        assert result == 35.0
+
+    def test_returns_default_when_salary_cap_is_none(self):
+        """
+        When team.salary_cap is None, return the default cap (32.0).
+
+        Why: Most teams use the standard cap; None indicates no custom value.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': None}
+        result = get_team_salary_cap(team)
+        assert result == DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP
+        assert result == 32.0
+
+    def test_returns_default_when_salary_cap_key_missing(self):
+        """
+        When the salary_cap key doesn't exist in team dict, return default.
+
+        Why: Backwards compatibility with older team data structures.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'sname': 'Test Team'}
+        result = get_team_salary_cap(team)
+        assert result == DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP
+
+    def test_returns_default_when_team_is_none(self):
+        """
+        When team is None, return the default cap.
+
+        Why: Defensive programming - callers may pass None in edge cases.
+        """
+        result = get_team_salary_cap(None)
+        assert result == DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP
+
+    def test_returns_default_when_team_is_empty_dict(self):
+        """
+        When team is an empty dict, return the default cap.
+
+        Why: Edge case handling for malformed team data.
+        """
+        result = get_team_salary_cap({})
+        assert result == DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP
+
+    def test_respects_zero_salary_cap(self):
+        """
+        When salary_cap is explicitly 0, return 0 (not default).
+
+        Why: Zero is a valid value (e.g., suspended team), distinct from None.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'BANNED', 'salary_cap': 0.0}
+        result = get_team_salary_cap(team)
+        assert result == 0.0
+
+    def test_handles_integer_salary_cap(self):
+        """
+        When salary_cap is an integer, return it as-is.
+
+        Why: API may return int instead of float; function should handle both.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 30}
+        result = get_team_salary_cap(team)
+        assert result == 30
+
+
+class TestExceedsSalaryCap:
+    """Tests for exceeds_salary_cap() function."""
+
+    def test_returns_false_when_under_cap(self):
+        """
+        WAR of 30.0 should not exceed default cap of 32.0.
+
+        Why: Normal case - team is under cap and should pass validation.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 32.0}
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(30.0, team)
+        assert result is False
+
+    def test_returns_false_when_exactly_at_cap(self):
+        """
+        WAR of exactly 32.0 should not exceed cap (within tolerance).
+
+        Why: Teams should be allowed to be exactly at cap limit.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 32.0}
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(32.0, team)
+        assert result is False
+
+    def test_returns_false_within_tolerance(self):
+        """
+        WAR slightly above cap but within tolerance should not exceed.
+
+        Why: Floating point math may produce values like 32.0000001;
+        tolerance prevents false positives from rounding errors.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 32.0}
+        # 32.0005 is within 0.001 tolerance of 32.0
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(32.0005, team)
+        assert result is False
+
+    def test_returns_true_when_over_cap(self):
+        """
+        WAR of 33.0 clearly exceeds cap of 32.0.
+
+        Why: Core validation - must reject teams over cap.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 32.0}
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(33.0, team)
+        assert result is True
+
+    def test_returns_true_just_over_tolerance(self):
+        """
+        WAR just beyond tolerance should exceed cap.
+
+        Why: Tolerance has a boundary; values beyond it must fail.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': 32.0}
+        # 32.002 is beyond 0.001 tolerance
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(32.002, team)
+        assert result is True
+
+    def test_uses_team_custom_cap(self):
+        """
+        Should use team's custom cap, not default.
+
+        Why: Teams with higher/lower caps must be validated correctly.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'EXPANSION', 'salary_cap': 28.0}
+        # 30.0 is under default 32.0 but over custom 28.0
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(30.0, team)
+        assert result is True
+
+    def test_uses_default_cap_when_team_cap_none(self):
+        """
+        When team has no custom cap, use default for comparison.
+
+        Why: Backwards compatibility - existing teams without salary_cap field.
+        """
+        team = {'abbrev': 'TEST', 'salary_cap': None}
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(33.0, team)
+        assert result is True
+
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(31.0, team)
+        assert result is False
+
+    def test_handles_none_team(self):
+        """
+        When team is None, use default cap for comparison.
+
+        Why: Defensive programming for edge cases.
+        """
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(33.0, None)
+        assert result is True
+
+        result = exceeds_salary_cap(31.0, None)
+        assert result is False
+
+
+class TestConstants:
+    """Tests for salary cap constants."""
+
+    def test_default_salary_cap_value(self):
+        """
+        DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP should be 32.0 (league standard).
+
+        Why: Ensures constant wasn't accidentally changed.
+        """
+        assert DEFAULT_SALARY_CAP == 32.0
+
+    def test_tolerance_value(self):
+        """
+        SALARY_CAP_TOLERANCE should be 0.001.
+
+        Why: Tolerance must be small enough to catch real violations
+        but large enough to handle floating point imprecision.
+        """
+        assert SALARY_CAP_TOLERANCE == 0.001