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Premium Audit Workpapers – Employers Can Obtain Copy

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Premium Audit Workpapers – No Harm To Ask For Them

Premium audit workpapers are one of the audit items that are seldom provided to employers.  I have also seen them provided to employers with the audit results or at the time of the premium audit bill.   Along those lines, I received this question last week.

Picture Of Audit Workpapers Stack
Wikimedia Commons – Niklas Bildhauer

 Is it a requirement that the premium auditor provide our company with a copy of the audit workpapers?

I think we should first start off with the definition of the premium audit workpapers.  They are handwritten or computerized step-by-step background notes of how the auditor calculated the premium during an audit.  I have also seen a computerized or handwritten checklist, especially in California.

The auditor will usually record each step of their audit as justification of why they changed any of the payroll amounts.  The audit workpapers are usually very organized and easy to read.  It is a good place to review if there are questions on any part of the premium audit.

The premium auditor is actually required in most states to provide the employer with a copy of the workpapers.  Paying for an audit without the workpapers would be similar to paying an electric bill without knowing how much energy was used by your company.

Woman Audit Workpapers On Conference Room Table
StockUnlimited

It is always a good idea to ask for them if the auditor did not leave the workpapers behind on a recent audit.  An email to the auditor or your agent asking for the workpapers will usually result in your company being provided with a copy very quickly.

Once you have received the workpapers, it may be a good idea to scan over them to see how the auditor calculated your final premium bill.   The workpapers should not really be that lengthy unless your company is very large, has many locations in multiple states, or is a temporary employment agency.

If, after reviewing the workpapers, you feel that your company was overcharged, you may want to contact a premium audit expert company such as J&L.  The main thing is to not just write out premium checks if you do not understand the justification for the charges.

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James J Moore - Workers Comp Expert

Raleigh, NC, United States

About The Author...

James founded a Workers’ Compensation consulting firm, J&L Risk Management Consultants, Inc. in 1996. J&L’s mission is to reduce our clients’ Workers Compensation premiums by using time-tested techniques. J&L’s claims, premium, reserve and Experience Mod reviews have saved employers over $9.8 million in earned premiums over the last three years. J&L has saved numerous companies from bankruptcy proceedings as a result of insurance overpayments.

James has over 27 years of experience in insurance claims, audit, and underwriting, specializing in Workers’ Compensation. He has supervised, and managed the administration of Workers’ Compensation claims, and underwriting in over 45 states. His professional experience includes being the Director of Risk Management for the North Carolina School Boards Association. He created a very successful Workers’ Compensation Injury Rehabilitation Unit for school personnel.

James’s educational background, which centered on computer technology, culminated in earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA); an Associate in Claims designation (AIC); and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM). He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a licensed financial advisor. The NC Department of Insurance has certified him as an insurance instructor. He also possesses a Bachelors’ Degree in Actuarial Science.

LexisNexis has twice recognized his blog as one of the Top 25 Blogs on Workers’ Compensation. J&L has been listed in AM Best’s Preferred Providers Directory for Insurance Experts – Workers Compensation for over eight years. He recently won the prestigious Baucom Shine Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer contributions to the area of risk management and safety. James was recently named as an instructor for the prestigious Insurance Academy.

James is on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the North Carolina Mid-State Safety Council. He has published two manuals on Workers’ Compensation and three different claims processing manuals. He has also written and has been quoted in numerous articles on reducing Workers’ Compensation costs for public and private employers. James publishes a weekly newsletter with 7,000 readers.

He currently possess press credentials and am invited to various national Workers Compensation conferences as a reporter.

James’s articles or interviews on Workers’ Compensation have appeared in the following publications or websites:

  • Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Bloomberg Business News
  • WorkCompCentral.com
  • Claims Magazine
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine
  • Insurance Journal
  • Workers Compensation.com
  • LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites
  • Various trade publications

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