Workers' compensation calculations
The following information explains how the application calculates workers' compensation amounts, explains the terms used in the description, provides an example of how the application calculates workers' compensation amounts, and explains how to exclude payroll items and accrual benefits from calculations.
Calculation details
How workers' compensation calculates on payroll checks
- Gross Wages - Excluded Wages - Excluded Overtime Premium = Subject Wages
- Workers' Compensation Rate * Experience Rating = Adjusted Workers' Compensation Rate
- Subject Wages * Adjusted Workers' Compensation Rate = Adjusted Premium Amount
Details | Amount |
|---|---|
Gross Wages= | $1500.00 |
Excluded Wages= | $500.00 |
Excluded Overtime Premium= | $250.00 |
Experience Rating= | 75.00% |
Workers' Compensation Rate= | 1.0% |
- $1500.00 - $500.00 - $250.00 = $750.00 Subject Wages
- 1.0% * 75.00% = 0.75% Workers' Compensation Adjusted Rate
- $750.00 * 0.75% =5.625 Adjusted Premium Amount
How it shows on the Detailed Workers' Compensation report
- Gross Wages - Excluded Wages - Excluded Overtime Premium = Subject Wages
- Subject Wages * Workers' Compensation Rate = Premium Amount
- Premium Amount * Experience Rating = Adjusted Premium Amount
Details | Amount |
|---|---|
Gross Wages = | $1500.00 |
Excluded Wages = | $500.00 |
Excluded Overtime Premium = | $250.00 |
Experience Rating = | 75.00% |
Workers' Compensation Rate = | 1.0% |
- $1500.00 - $500.00 - $250.00 = $750.00 Subject Wages
- $750.00 * 1.0% = $7.50 Premium Amount
- $7.50 * 75.00% =5.625 Adjusted Premium Amount
Definitions of terms
- Gross wages.The total wage amounts of all pay items on a payroll check (minus any items that are set up to be excluded from gross pay).
- Excluded wages.Any pay item that has been set up in theSetupthenPayroll Itemsscreen to be excluded from workers' compensation for a particular state or for all states.
- Overtime premium.The portion of premium pay (half time in most cases) for all overtime amounts. Most states exclude this, although a few don't (refer to the state-specific exceptions section).
- Subject wages.The base wage amount from which workers' compensation is calculated.
- Premium amount.The full premium amount due, before multiplying by the experience rating.
- Experience rating.A rating system used by employers that can either raise or lower the premium amount due based on the client's policy history and risk.
- Adjusted premium amount.The Premium amount after it has been adjusted by the experience rating.
State-specific calculation differences
Certain states differ from the usual calculations.
- Washington: Washington state uses hours worked to calculate the workers compensation premium amounts (also referred to as Washington L&I) instead of wage amounts. Washington SDI tax is calculated the same way, using the employer and employee rate entered in theWorker’s Compensationtab of theSetupthenClientsscreen and an active Worker's Compensation code in theWorkers' Compensationtab of theSetupthenEmployeesscreen.
- The following states exclude accruable benefits from their Workers' Compensation calculations:
- Kansas
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Washington
Exclude payroll items from workers' compensation calculations
- SelectSetupthenPayroll Items.
- Select the client at the top of the screen then highlight the payroll item in the Payroll Items list.
- Go to theMaintab and selectEdit.
- In the Exclusions section, select eitherExclude all,Selected, orNo jurisdictions from workers' compensation calculationsfor this payroll item.noteIf you selectSelected, the ellipsis icon
is available. You can select it to open the Workers Compensation Exclusion Detailswindow, where you can select the jurisdictions to be excluded from workers' compensation calculations.
Exclude accruable benefits from workers' compensation calculations
- SelectSetupthenAccruable Benefits.
- Select the client at the top of the screen then selectEdit.
- Select the accruable benefit in the Accruable Benefits list.
- In the Exclusions section, choose whether toExclude all,Selected, orNo jurisdictions from workers' compensation calculationsfor this benefit.