--- title: "Pennsylvania Workers' Comp Requirements for Employers | MCC" description: "Pennsylvania workers' comp: 1 or more employees, owners and officers, penalties and the required notice, in the agency's words." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/workers-comp-pennsylvania" --- Workers' comp · Pennsylvania # Pennsylvania 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 and self-insurance. [![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.** Mandatory for any employer with at least one employee. ## At a glance Who must carry it Mandatory for any employer with at least one employee. Agriculture Agricultural laborers earning under $1,200 per person per calendar year may be excluded, with conditions. Domestic work Domestic workers may be excluded unless the employer has elected coverage with the department. Owners and officers Sole proprietors or general partners with no other employees are excluded, as are LLCs whose only employees are members. Executive officers can be excluded with the department's approval. Independent contractors Calling someone an independent contractor doesn't settle it; supervision, tools and set hours can point to employee status. Self-insurance Allowed individually or as a group with the department's approval. Going without A misdemeanor carrying a $2,500 fine and up to a year in prison for each day; an intentional violation is a felony with up to a $15,000 fine per day and up to seven years. Workplace notice Post a notice with the insurer's name, address and phone number. Agency Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation (Department of Labor & Industry) ## In the agency's words **The rule** Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in Pennsylvania, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). "mandatory for any employer that employs at least one employee" **Agriculture** "Agricultural laborers earning under $1200 per person per calendar year" **Domestic work** "Domestic workers who have not elected with the Department of Labor & Industry" **Owners** "Executive officers who have been granted exclusion by the Department of Labor & Industry" **Contractors** "Just because an employer considers someone an independent contractor does not necessarily mean the person qualifies as such." **Going without** "a $2,500 fine and up to one year in imprisonment" **Notice** "a notice containing the name, address and telephone number of the insurer." ## Three example businesses What the stated rule says for three common setups: - **2 employees, most businesses (not construction), llc:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=pa&employees=2&industry=other&biz=llc) - **4 employees, construction, corporation:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=pa&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=pa&employees=6&industry=other&biz=sole) Your own numbers: [open the checker for Pennsylvania](/bookkeeping/do-i-need-workers-comp-checker?state=pa). **Not stated on the pages we read:** how to check an employer's coverage. ## Official sources - [LIBC-200 Employer Information (Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry)](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/resources/for-employers-and-educators/workers--compensation-for-employers/libc-200-employer-information.html) (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 Pennsylvania?** Mandatory for any employer with at least one employee. The agency puts it as "mandatory for any employer that employs at least one employee." **Do owners and officers need coverage in Pennsylvania?** Sole proprietors or general partners with no other employees are excluded, as are LLCs whose only employees are members. Executive officers can be excluded with the department's approval. **What about independent contractors in Pennsylvania?** Calling someone an independent contractor doesn't settle it; supervision, tools and set hours can point to employee status. **What happens to a Pennsylvania employer with no coverage?** A misdemeanor carrying a $2,500 fine and up to a year in prison for each day; an intentional violation is a felony with up to a $15,000 fine per day and up to seven years. **What notice must a Pennsylvania employer post?** Post a notice with the insurer's name, address and phone number. **Can an employer self-insure in Pennsylvania?** Allowed individually or as a group with the department's approval. All states: [workers' comp requirements by state](/bookkeeping/workers-comp-requirements-by-state) · [Oklahoma](/bookkeeping/workers-comp-oklahoma) · [Rhode Island](/bookkeeping/workers-comp-rhode-island) Keeping coverage records in Pennsylvania? ## Workers' Comp and Business Insurance Records Kit A state coverage checklist with Pennsylvania'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)