Texas WC Exemption for contractors

Non-subscribers lose the employer negligence defenses that come with being in the WC system. Employees can sue for negligence without the standard 'course and scope' burden. Non-subscribers must also post notices and file annual non-subscriber reports with TDI.

Occupational accident insurance is a private benefit policy — not WC — that provides medical and disability payments if you're injured at work. Texas contractors use it as a lower-cost WC alternative that provides some injury protection without entering the state WC system.

Some Texas GCs require subcontractors to carry WC or provide a certificate of coverage regardless of state law. Others accept occupational accident insurance or a documented non-subscriber status. We review your contract requirements and match you to the right solution.

Yes. Texas non-subscribers can have employees — they just operate outside the WC system. The tradeoff is liability exposure. Many Texas employers with employees use a non-subscriber benefit plan designed to limit lawsuit exposure while avoiding WC premium costs.

State filing fees vary — Florida charges $50 per certificate. Our service fee covers preparation, submission, and tracking. We quote the total cost up front, no surprises.

Yes. Contractors Choice Agency advises on exemption eligibility in all 50 states and files in every state with a formal exemption or election process.

Florida exemptions typically issue within 1–3 business days. Other states vary. We file same-day on receipt of your information and track status until your certificate arrives.

Often yes. Denials usually stem from incomplete applications or a business structure mismatch. We review what went wrong and refile correctly.

Yes. Many contractors who file exemptions choose occupational accident insurance as an alternative to WC for themselves. We can place that alongside your exemption filing in one call.

A Texas non-subscriber has opted out of the state workers' comp system. Non-subscribers can be sued for negligence without standard WC defenses. We help Texas contractors understand the risk and choose the right alternative.

In most states, yes. LLC members and corporate officers can each file individual exemptions. The ownership percentage, active-work requirements, and form vary by state.

We track your expiration date and send you an advance alert before renewal is due. Florida exemptions expire every two years; other states vary.

No. An exemption removes you from the WC system; it doesn't limit a third party's ability to sue you for negligence on a job site. General liability still matters.

A prior claim doesn't disqualify you from filing an exemption — eligibility is based on your business structure and state rules, not claim history.

Some GCs require all subs to carry WC regardless of exemption status. We can place a workers' comp policy for you if a client specifically requires coverage rather than a certificate.

Your state, business structure (sole prop, LLC, S-corp), trade type, owner count, Federal EIN, and contractor license number where applicable. A 15-minute call covers it all.

Yes. Occupational accident insurance provides medical and disability benefits at a fraction of WC cost and is often the right solution for owners who file exemptions but want some injury protection.

Your exemption covers you as an owner — employees hired after the fact still need workers' comp coverage unless they file their own exemptions. We handle both.