ZANESVILLE, Ohio — August 15 is the BWC deadline for the private employer True-Up. Failure to do the True-Up can disqualify employers from group rating programs and other discount programs.
True-Up Process
BWC provides workers’ compensation coverage based on estimated payroll. Therefore, at the end of the policy year, BWC asks employers to report their actual payroll for the prior policy year and pay any shortage (or receive a refund for any overage) in premium. This process is called a true-up. If the true-up is not completed timely, the following may occur:
- Employer will not be eligible for prior year rebates and incentives
- Employer will be removed from current year programs
- Employer will become ineligible for programs the following year and will continue to remain ineligible for all future years until all past true-ups are completed.
Examples of reportable payroll
The more common types of reportable payroll include sick pay, vacation pay, bonus payments including stock given as a bonus, sales commission, tips, and all gross hourly wages and salaries less qualifying deductions for section 125 cafeteria plan benefits. Contact BWC or go to www.bwc.ohio.gov, select For Employers/Compliance/Reporting Payroll for a complete list of reportable payroll. You may also contact our advisor Sedgwick’s Rate Department at (800) 825-6755 with any questions.
How to report payroll and complete the true-up
Although employers may contact BWC at (800) OHIO-BWC (800.644.6292) and complete their true-up report over the phone. BWC anticipates high call volumes and long wait times. They strongly encourage employers to complete their true-up report online through their BWC e-account at www.bwc.ohio.gov. If you do not have an e-account, simply select the Create E-Account Link to begin. You will need your BWC policy number and/or Federal Tax Identification Number.
Not enrolled in the program?
If you are not part of Ohio Forestry Association’s workers’ compensation group program currently, you can request a free quote at www.sedgwick.com/ac3/forestry. This is a premium discount program OFA offers to help employer members contain costs. Please see the attachment for more information.
–Ohio Forestry Association
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