How to Read Your Workers’ Comp Audit Worksheet (Before You Pay It)
6 min read · Updated June 20, 2026
When your audit comes back, the number on the invoice is a conclusion. The worksheet behind it is the proof — and where mistakes hide. Don’t pay the bill until you’ve read the worksheet. Here’s how.
First: ask for it
Carriers don’t always send the detailed worksheet automatically. Request it from the audit department. You can’t check math you can’t see, and asking starts your paper trail before any dispute deadline.
What the worksheet shows
- Class codes used, and the payroll assigned to each.
- Rates per $100 for each class.
- Subcontractor amounts added to your payroll.
- Owner/officer payroll and whether a cap was applied.
- Overtime — whether the excess was removed.
- Your experience mod and the final calculation.
The four lines to scrutinize
- Subcontractors added. Any sub here you have a COI for? That charge should come off. Verify your subs →
- Classification. Is payroll sitting in a higher class than the work justifies? How class codes work →
- Owner/officer payroll. Was the state cap applied, or did a full salary drop into the governing class?
- Overtime excess. Was the extra half of time-and-a-half removed (in states that allow it)?
More detail on these overcharges →
If something’s wrong
Don’t just pay it and don’t just call — dispute it in writing, with evidence, before your deadline. The free audit dispute letter generator builds the letter from the exact items you flag on the worksheet. The full dispute process →
General information for contractors, not legal advice. Worksheet formats and dispute deadlines vary by carrier and state — confirm yours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my workers’ comp audit worksheet?
Request it directly from your carrier’s audit department. It’s the detailed breakdown behind the invoice, and you’re entitled to see how your premium was calculated.
What should I check on the audit worksheet?
Four things: subcontractors wrongly added to your payroll, class-code misclassification, whether owner/officer payroll was capped, and whether overtime excess was removed.
How long do I have to dispute an audit?
It varies by state and carrier, but the window is often just a few weeks. Request the worksheet and file any written dispute quickly.
See your own exposure — free
Two free tools, no signup: estimate your audit surprise, and check whether your subs’ COIs actually protect you.
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