Do I need to register for WorkCover insurance?

When you must register

Generally, you must register for WorkCover insurance if you or your company employs any workers in Victoria.

If your company employs you personally, then you are a worker of your own company, and need to register.

Exemptions

You don't need to register if you or your company has no apprentices, and does not or is not liable to pay more than $7,500 in a financial year in remuneration.

Sole traders, partnerships and trusts

You don't need to register if you're a sole trader, an individual in a partnership or an individual trustee of a trust and you don't employ any other people as workers.

Companies

If you operate a contracting business as a company or trust with a corporate trustee, it may be the case that your business depends on another business for its existence.

If so, then unless you operate an owner driver business, you may count as a deemed worker of the other business.

If you count as a deemed worker of the other business, then your company may not need to register.

This is because -

• any amounts paid by your company to you would not count as remuneration for your company
• amounts paid by the other business to your company would count as remuneration for the other business.

For more information, see Incorporated Contractor Arrangements on How remuneration works.

Penalties

If you're not registered for WorkCover insurance when you should be, you may face severe penalties.

You can also be required to reimburse WorkSafe for any compensation paid to your injured workers.