--- title: "Georgia Workers' Comp Requirements for Employers | MCC" description: "Georgia workers' comp: 3 or more employees, owners and officers, penalties and the required notice, in the agency's words." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/workers-comp-georgia" --- Workers' comp · Georgia # Georgia workers' compensation requirements Which employers must carry coverage, how owners and contractors are treated, and what the agency's pages say about penalties, the workplace notice, self-insurance and checking a policy. [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) **Short answer.** Every employer that regularly employs three or more people, part-time or full-time. ## At a glance Who must carry it Every employer that regularly employs three or more people, part-time or full-time. Owners and officers A partner or sole proprietor isn't an employee unless they choose to be included. Corporate officers and LLC members count as employees; they may exempt themselves by filing Form WC-10 with the insurer. Independent contractors A contractor who sublets work may be liable for the subcontractor's employees if the subcontractor has no coverage. Self-insurance Allowed by application to the Board, with three years of audited financial statements and a $500 fee. Going without A civil penalty of $500 to $5,000 per occurrence, plus possible attorney's fees and a 10% increase in compensation. Willful failure is a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $10,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. Workplace notice Post the Board's Bill of Rights for the injured worker and a Panel of Physicians (P1 or P3), with the insurer's name or the self-insurance certificate. Check a policy Use the Board's Employer Insurance Coverage Search; it's for checking coverage, not for filing a claim. [Open the lookup](https://www.ewccv.com/cvs/) Agency State Board of Workers' Compensation ## In the agency's words **The rule** Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in Georgia, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). "regularly employing three or more persons, part-time or full time" **Owners** "A partner or sole proprietor is not an employee of the business unless he or she wishes to be included" **Contractors** "may be liable for coverage for the employees of the subcontractor" **Going without** "The Board may assess a civil penalty of not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00 per occurrence" **Notice** "the State Board of Workers' Compensation Bill of Rights for the injured worker" ## Three example businesses What the stated rule says for three common setups: - **2 employees, most businesses (not construction), llc:** Not required by the headcount rule. [See why](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=ga&employees=2&industry=other&biz=llc) - **4 employees, construction, corporation:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=ga&employees=4&industry=construction&biz=corporation) - **6 employees, most businesses (not construction), sole proprietor:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=ga&employees=6&industry=other&biz=sole) Your own numbers: [open the checker for Georgia](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=ga). ## Worth knowing The Board's Enforcement Division takes reports of employers without coverage at (404) 657-7285. ## Official sources - [Employer Information | State Board of Workers' Compensation](https://sbwc.georgia.gov/node/50) (checked November 2026) - [Online Employer's Workers' Compensation Coverage Verification | Georgia SBWC](https://sbwc.georgia.gov/node/84) (checked November 2026) General information, not legal or insurance advice; we are not lawyers or insurance agents. Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. We don't recommend or sell any insurer; the agency or a licensed agent can say how a rule applies to your business. ## Common questions **Who has to carry workers' comp in Georgia?** Every employer that regularly employs three or more people, part-time or full-time. The agency puts it as "regularly employing three or more persons, part-time or full time." **Do owners and officers need coverage in Georgia?** A partner or sole proprietor isn't an employee unless they choose to be included. Corporate officers and LLC members count as employees; they may exempt themselves by filing Form WC-10 with the insurer. **What about independent contractors in Georgia?** A contractor who sublets work may be liable for the subcontractor's employees if the subcontractor has no coverage. **What happens to a Georgia employer with no coverage?** A civil penalty of $500 to $5,000 per occurrence, plus possible attorney's fees and a 10% increase in compensation. Willful failure is a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $10,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. **What notice must a Georgia employer post?** Post the Board's Bill of Rights for the injured worker and a Panel of Physicians (P1 or P3), with the insurer's name or the self-insurance certificate. **Can an employer self-insure in Georgia?** Allowed by application to the Board, with three years of audited financial statements and a $500 fee. All states: [workers' comp requirements by state](/bookkeeping/workers-comp-requirements-by-state) · [Florida](/bookkeeping/workers-comp-florida) · [Idaho](/bookkeeping/workers-comp-idaho) Keeping coverage records in Georgia? ## Workers' Comp and Business Insurance Records Kit A state coverage checklist with Georgia's rule and official link, a certificate of insurance log for subcontractors, an injury report and claim log, and a workbook that flags policy renewals and expiring certificates, as Word files and PDFs. [Get the kit ($15)](/toolkits/workers-comp-and-insurance-records-kit) [Free sample](/toolkits/workers-comp-and-insurance-records-kit#free-starter)14-day full refund Tallyfinch ### Books you keep on your own computer Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) [Download it free](/tools/pro/trial/mccBooks) [Compare the three apps](/software) ## Want payroll and insurance records kept for you? [See bookkeeping services](/bookkeeping/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)