Document name

Employer Premium Payments

Document number

POL 25/2025

Assessable earnings are a workers’ gross earnings before deductions for income tax, Employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and other similar deductions up to the maximum assessable amount for the calendar year being reported.

Industry Premium Rate means the rate applied to all employers within a rate code expressed as a dollar amount for every $100 of assessable payroll.

Assessment is the calculation of premiums based on the premium rate applied per one hundred dollars of assessable payroll, optional personal coverage and deemed contract labour.

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 (the General Regulations), direct that the WCB and an employer can agree on an alternate payment schedule, otherwise assessments are due:
   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. (Section 6).
3. The WCB is authorized to apply a penalty when an employer fails to pay an assessment when it is due (Section 8 of the General Regulations).

1. Employers are required to:
   1. Report assessable earnings for workers and contractor labour annually, up to the maximum assessable wage rate 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) indicating 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 amount of the annual assessment (see Appendix in PRO 25/2025, Employer Premium Payments).

Alternate Payment Schedules

3. Alternate payment schedules may be set for employer premium payments based on the premium amount and date of assessment.
4. Employers on alternate payment schedules are subject to penalties and interest based on payment due dates.
5. Premiums for employers with only Optional Personal Coverage (OPC) are not eligible for alternate payment schedules.

Default in Assessment Payments

6. Interest will accrue on unpaid balances after the scheduled payment date, as outlined in PRO 31/2024, 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.
7. Default in premium payments may result in cancellation of OPC as outlined in POL 29/2024, Personal Coverage, and/or voluntary coverage in accordance with POL 21/2014, Coverage – Voluntary.
8. The WCB may initiate appropriate collection practices for employer accounts with a history of defaulting on WCB premiums.