What an employer needs to do
An employer must submit wage records to their insurer. This includes providing an estimate of wages for the current policy period within 2 months of obtaining or renewing a policy and a declaration of actual wages within 4 months after the policy period ends.
- An estimate of wages means a reasonable estimate of the wages that will be payable by the employer during the relevant period of insurance to workers employed by the employer.
- Actual wages means a full and correct declaration by the employer of the wages that were actually paid by the employer during that period of insurance to workers employed by the employer.
- Wages are defined as per Section 174(9) of the Workers Compensation Act 1987
Wage records must be submitted
Submitting wage records ensures that insurance premiums are calculated both accurately and fairly based on the wages paid, which helps to maintain correct insurance coverage and scheme sustainability.
If an employer does not comply
Contravention of these obligations can lead to an escalated regulatory response by SIRA in accordance with our Regulatory Framework. If an employer fails to submit their wage records, the insurer may undertake a wage audit, and/or SIRA may take the following regulatory action:
- Issue a penalty notice of $550 under Clause 141 of the Workers Compensation Regulation 2016
- Issue an Official Caution
- Issue late payment fees
- Referral for a wage audit to be conducted for up to the last 5 years
- Recover costs associated with a wage audit
- Prosecution - the maximum penalty for this offence is 20 penalty units ($2,200).
Contact your insurer for more information about what you need to do
- iCare
- Guild Insurance
- Hospitality Industry Insurance
- Email: policy@hii.au
- Phone number: 02 8251 9069
- Coal Mines Insurance
- Email: employerservices@coalservices.com.au
- Phone number: 02 8270 3257
- StateCover Mutual
- Email: enquiries@statecover.net.au
- Racing NSW
- Trinity Insurance
- Email: policy@trinityinsurance.au
- Phone Number: 02 8251 9100
Employer obligations
Employer obligation | Legislative reference | Issue of employer improvement notice | Penalty notice offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard policies - supply the insurer with an estimate of wage records within 2 months of obtaining or renewing a policy (Excludes small employers as per Clause 138(2), 2016 Regulation) | Clause 138(1) and 141, 2016 Regulation | No | $550 | 20 penalty units |
Standard policies - supply the insurer with actual wage records within 4 months of the policy end date | Clause 138(3) and 141, 2016 Regulation | No | $550 | 20 penalty units |
Notify the insurer within 7 days if a certificate of currency contains an error | Section 163A(7), 1987 Act | No | $1,100 | 50 penalty units |
Updated 24 April 2025