California’s WCIRB Changes Rating Info For Certain Industries
The WCIRB changes Rating Info effective September 1, 2025, including eliminating, changing, and adding Classification Codes.
The webinar on the changes can be found here.
The Quick Reference Guide covers all the WCIRB changes in summary form. I recommend starting there if you are an employer in:
- Baked Goods
- Sugar Mfg./Refining
- Newspaper Delivery
- Cottonseed Oil Mfg.
- Butter Substitutes Mfg.
Instead of explaining the changes, I used the info from the guide to be as accurate as possible. See the New Classifications and Eliminated Classifications sections.
Check out the Classification Codes below. Access your Workers Comp policy and see what codes are on your policy. If your company has any of the codes, the next thing to do is watch the video.
Eliminating surprise premium changes (likely increases) will only consume 90 minutes of your time. The WCIRB has always been a helpful organization if you have questions.
Minimum Payroll
One side but important concern that certain employers have questions on can be seen below. The minimum payroll figures should be noted if you are a Taxicab operation or with Executive Staff in certain types of companies.
7365 Taxicab Operations – Minimum Payroll $45,200
No Class Code Executive Officers, Partners, Individual Employers and Members of a Limited Liability Company Minimum Payroll $63,700
WCIRB Changes Rating Info – New Classifications
Classification Established/Purpose
2004, Baked Goods Mfg. – wholesale Established as part of the Food Packaging and Processing Industry Group to apply to facilities that manufacture baked goods that are primarily sold to wholesale customers. Operations were previously assigned to Classification 2003, Bakeries or Cracker Mfg.
4683(3), Sugar Mfg. or Refining – N.O.C. Established as part of the Food Packaging and Processing Industry Group to apply to manufacturing or refining sugar cane or beet sugar operations. Operations were previously assigned to Classification 2030, Sugar Mfg. or Refining.
Eliminated Classifications
Classification Eliminated Classifications to Which Operations Described by the Eliminated Classification Are Reassigned – the reassigned codes are bolded
0400, Warehouses – cotton 0401, Cotton Gin Operation
2030, Sugar Mfg. or Refining 4683(3), Sugar Mfg. or Refining
4312, Newspaper Delivery
- 4304, Newspaper Publishing or Printing: Operations comprising the sale or delivery of newspapers by newspaper publishers or printers to customers for their personal use
- 7198(1), Parcel Delivery and Messenger Service Companies: Employers that deliver newspapers on a fee basis to customers for their personal use
4683(2), Cottonseed Oil Mfg. or Refining 4683(1), Vegetable Oil Mfg. or Refining
4717, Butter Substitutes Mfg. 2063, Dairy Products or Ice Mfg.
Bottom Line
If you are one of the industries affected by the WCIRB Changes, take some time to assess your future workers comp budgets. Even if you are not one of the listed classification codes, always review the accuracy of how your company has been rated – worth the time spent – guaranteed.
