An audit is a normal and integral part of a self-reporting system like WorkSafeBC’s. If you're audited, we'll verify your assessable payroll and industry classification, and ensure your premiums accurately reflect your business. We’ll also work with you to ensure you have the resources you need to understand the payment process and report your payroll.

Why we audit

You help cover the cost of work-related injuries and illness and provide protection for employers by paying premiums, which are determined by the information you provide when you report your payroll.

An audit ensures that you’re paying the correct amount of premiums. An audit may even find that employers are over-paying premiums due to circumstances such as incorrectly calculating their assessable payroll.

What happens during an audit?

If you’re selected for an audit, we will contact you to schedule a time to review your firm’s business records. This may be done in person, with your accountant, or by email. We may request to see the following records:

• Financial statements
• Tax returns and information slips
• General ledgers
• Sales records
• Affiliates and shareholders records

What happens after an audit?

After we evaluate the information, an audit typically finds that firms:

• Accurately reported their assessable payroll and are in the correct classification, which would result in no changes. This happens in almost one-third of audits.
• Under- or over-reported their assessable payroll — this generally results in either an additional payment or a refund.
• Not been correctly classified — if their industry classification changes, it could result in a change in premiums.

Need more information?

If you have any questions or concerns about an audit, please call us at 604.244.6103 in the Lower Mainland, or 1.888.922.2768, local 6103, toll-free elsewhere in Canada.