Document name

Employer Premium Payments

Document number

POL 09/2021

1. The Workers' Compensation Act, 2013 directs that each employer shall pay the amount of the assessment to the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) within one month, or within any other period set by the WCB, after receipt of the notice of the assessment (Section 141 (2)).
2. The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985, directs that except where otherwise fixed by the WCB, assessments are due and payable by the employer:
   1. Within 30 days from the date on which the assessment notice is generated, and
   2. September 1 in each year, for remaining unpaid amounts for assessments made prior to July 31 in each year (Section 6).

The WCB is authorized to apply a penalty when an employer fails to pay an assessment when it is due (Section 8).

1. Employers are required to:
   1. Report assessable earnings for workers and contractor labour annually, up to the maximum assessable earnings amount per worker per calendar year, for the calculation of premiums for coverage for work-related injuries and illnesses, and
   2. Pay premiums of $5 or more based on the payroll assessment and payment due date(s) set by the WCB.
2. Employers will receive a statement of account (SOA) for WCB premium assessments payable for the current calendar year and any carry forward balance from prior year(s), which are due:
   1. 30 days from the date the statement of account has been generated, and/or
   2. April 1 and September 1 depending on the size of the annual assessment (see Appendix in PRO 09/2021, Employer Premium Payments).

Alternate Payment Schedules

3. The Board authorizes Employer Services to set alternate payment schedules for employer premium payments on a case-by-case basis.
4. Employers on alternate payment schedules are still subject to penalties and interest.

Default in Assessment Payments

5. Interest will accrue on unpaid balances after the scheduled payment date, as outlined in PRO 12/2019, Default in Assessment Payment. Employers who receive late payment interest charges can request relief from the interest in specific circumstances in accordance with POL 06/2011, Employer Accounts – Cancellation of Penalties and Interest.
6. Default in premium payments may result in cancellation of optional personal coverage (OPC) as outlined in POL 03/2014, Coverage – Personal, and/or voluntary coverage in accordance with POL 21/2014, Coverage – Voluntary.
7. WCB may initiate appropriate collection practices for employer accounts with a history of defaulting on WCB premiums.