If you’re a contractor, few things are more stressful than opening a letter from your insurance company and finding out you’ve been hit with a workers’ compensation audit — and worse, you owe thousands of dollars you weren’t expecting. Workers’ comp audits can seem intimidating, but with the right approach (and the right partner), you can fix the situation quickly and protect your business’s financial health.
Here’s how you can tackle a workers’ compensation audit — and why teaming up with BGES Group could be the smartest move you make.
First Things First: Understand Why You Got Audited
Insurance companies perform audits to make sure the premiums they’ve charged you match your actual business operations. For contractors, it’s especially tricky because:
- You might hire subcontractors who aren’t properly insured.
- Job classifications might not be clearly defined.
- Your payroll might have fluctuated during the year.
- You might not have all the required paperwork to back up exemptions.
If they find discrepancies, the insurance company will bill you for additional premium — often with penalties tacked on.
Step 1: Gather Your Documentation
Before you can fight or fix an audit bill, you need to get organized:
- Payroll records: Make sure your reports are detailed and accurate.
- Certificates of insurance: If you hired subcontractors, you must have valid certificates proving they had their own workers’ comp insurance.
- Independent contractor agreements: These can help show that certain workers were not employees.
- Job descriptions: These show that workers were classified correctly based on their duties.
Without these, the audit will almost always assume the worst, and you’ll pay for it.
Step 2: Review the Audit Report Carefully
Mistakes happen — and they happen a lot. Auditors might:
- Misclassify workers (e.g., treating clerical workers as field laborers).
- Include uninsured subcontractors in your payroll.
- Count the same wages multiple times.
Don’t assume the audit is correct. Go line by line and question everything that seems off.
Step 3: Challenge the Audit (the Right Way)
If you find errors, you have the right to dispute the audit. You’ll need to:
- Provide corrected documentation quickly.
- Explain discrepancies clearly and politely.
- Ask for a revised bill based on your evidence.
Timing is everything — don’t wait too long or you’ll lose your chance to contest the charges.
Step 4: Plan to Prevent Future Problems
After you survive an audit, it’s time to prevent another nasty surprise:
- Always collect subcontractors’ insurance certificates before they start work.
- Audit your own payroll records quarterly.
- Work with an insurance expert who specializes in construction — someone who understands the nuances of workers’ comp for contractors.
This is where BGES Group can make a huge difference.
How BGES Group Can Help Contractors Like You
BGES Group is not just another insurance agency. Based in New York, they are specialists in construction insurance and workers’ compensation — and they’re famous for helping contractors fix audit issues and save major money.
Here’s why contractors trust BGES Group:
✅ Audit Assistance: They can review your past and current workers’ comp audits, find mistakes, and help you get refunds — sometimes saving contractors hundreds of thousands of dollars.
✅ Better Insurance Options: They work with 15+ top insurance carriers to find you the best rates and coverage, especially if you’ve faced cancellations or big losses.
✅ Proactive Service: Founder Gary Wallach has 44+ years of experience. You’ll talk to a real expert who answers the phone when you call — even on weekends.
✅ Special Programs for Contractors: BGES Group knows the construction industry inside and out, and they have special programs for contractors that can dramatically lower your costs and reduce audit risks.
✅ No-Cost Refund Reviews: They offer to review your past seven years of workers’ compensation policies to find errors — at no upfront cost to you. If they find mistakes, they help you get your money back!
✅ Mom-and-Pop Boutique Service: They aren’t some giant, faceless brokerage. They offer highly personalized, white-glove service that bigger firms just can’t match.
Don’t Let an Audit Destroy Your Business — Call BGES Group Today!
If you’re dealing with a messy workers’ comp audit — or if you just want to make sure you’re properly protected — don’t wait until it’s too late.
Contact BGES Group today:
📍 Contact: Gary Wallach
📞 Phone: (914)-806-5853
📧 Email: bgesgroup@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.bgesgroup.com
Talk to Gary Wallach and discover how easy it can be to fix your workers’ comp problems — and keep your construction business moving forward with confidence.