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August 13, 2020
2020-2054

Wyoming legislation provides for employer workers' compensation credits; non-charge of COVID-19 workers' compensation benefits

Wyoming 2020 legislation (SF 1002; SF 89) provides that employers will receive two credits against their employer workers' compensation (WC) premiums. The credits are available starting July 1, 2020 and may be applied to WC premiums through June 30, 2021.

The bills passed during the regular and special legislative sessions and the credits are intended to help employers weather the financial and economic strain of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"These Workers' Compensation premium credits come at a good time for Wyoming businesses," said Department of Workforce Services (DWS) Workforce Standards Administrator Jason Wolfe. "The credits will effectively give two months' worth of Workers' Compensation premium payments back to the employers, and these savings will be tremendously helpful during these difficult times." (News release, July 2020.)

Each WC premium credit equals 8.33%, for a total of 16.66%. The credits will expire if not used by June 30, 2021. To be eligible for the credits, employers must have made WC premium payments in calendar year 2019 and be in good standing with the Division on all required WC premium payments as of June 15, 2020.

The DWS Workers' Compensation Division mailed letters to qualified employers with instructions on how to apply the credits to their WC premiums. According to the Division, erroneous letters may have been sent to ineligible employers (i.e., those that did not pay WC in 2019).

Employers with questions regarding their qualification for the premium credits should contact the Division at +1 307 777 6763.

COVID-19 WC benefits will not be charged to employer experience accounts

Under SF 1002, injuries and illness related to COVID-19 for which an affected employee has filed a WC claim will not be charged against the employer's WC experience rating account. To be eligible for non-charge, the claim must be filed on or before December 30, 2020.

For more information on the DWS's response to COVID-19, go here.

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Contact Information
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
 
Workforce Tax Services - Employment Tax Advisory Services
   • Debera Salam (debera.salam@ey.com)
   • Kristie Lowery (kristie.lowery@ey.com)
   • Kenneth Hausser (kenneth.hausser@ey.com)
   • Peter Berard (peter.berard@ey.com)

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