Premium Audit Services for New York Businesses
We prepare New York employers for workers' comp, general liability and Department of Labor audits by reviewing your records and calculating the expected premium before anything reaches the auditor, so the final bill reflects your real numbers instead of estimates.
A Premium Audit Notice Doesn't Have to Mean a Surprise Bill
When your carrier asks for an audit months after the policy renewed, the first worry is usually the final bill. You may not know which records the auditor wants, how your payroll will be classified, or whether one missed detail will lead to an estimated audit that raises your premium.
Our audit assistance in New York covers every audit you are likely to face: workers' comp and general liability premium audits, NYS Department of Labor audits, virtual audits and audit disputes. We work with employers across Western New York, from Buffalo through Erie and Niagara counties, and with businesses in Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and throughout the state.
What you can count on when we take on your audit:
Guidance shaped by insurance experience going back to 1998, including underwriting, so your records are reviewed the way carriers and auditors read them.
One point of contact from the first audit notice through completion.
Support for online, paper and in-person audits, in whatever format your carrier uses.
Working knowledge of New York processes, including NYSIF audits and the forms each agency requires.
What Is a Premium Audit?
A premium audit is your carrier's review, at the end of the policy term, of the estimated exposure used to set your premium compared with your actual exposure for that term. Your premium starts out based on projected payroll, sales or other figures, and the audit replaces those projections with real numbers and settles the difference.
Which Policies Get Audited
Workers' compensation and general liability are the policies audited most often. Any policy priced on figures that change during the year, such as payroll or sales, can be audited.
What Drives the Audit
What the auditor examines depends on how your policy is rated.
- Workers' comp audits center on payroll for each class code, since every classification carries its own rate.
- General liability audits look at payroll, gross sales or subcontractor costs, depending on how your policy is rated.
- Both audits check whether each subcontractor you paid carried their own insurance, because uninsured subcontractors can be added to your payroll and your premium.
How the Audit Is Conducted
- A mail or self-report audit asks you to complete a form and return it with supporting records.
- A phone audit walks through your figures with the auditor on a call.
- A virtual audit collects your records through an online portal or a video meeting.
- An in-person audit brings the auditor to your office to review records on site.
Records the Auditor Usually Requests
- Payroll registers and summaries for the full policy term.
- Federal 941 filings and NYS-45 quarterly returns.
- Job duties or class codes for each employee.
- Certificates of insurance for every subcontractor you paid.
- Sales figures, general ledger reports or 1099s, depending on the policy.
What Happens After the Audit
The carrier issues a final audit statement. If your actual exposure was higher than estimated, you owe an additional premium, and if it was lower, you receive a return premium or credit.
For a closer look at each audit type, read our Workers' Comp Audit Guide and General Liability Audit Guide.
Premium Audit Services for Every Audit Type
Workers’ Comp Audit Assistance
Workers’ comp audits are required and built around your payroll, classifications, and documentation. You get hands-on support to organize your records, review your numbers, and submit what the auditor actually needs—on time and without guesswork.
General Liability Premium Audit Assistance
General liability audits often require multiple record types to verify your numbers. Your payroll, tax documents, and subcontractor records are organized and reviewed together so they align and support what you’re reporting.
NYS Department of Labor Audit Assistance
A NYS Department of Labor audit is separate from your carrier's premium audit. The state reviews your unemployment insurance reporting and payroll, including the wages on your quarterly returns and whether workers are classified correctly as employees. We organize the records the DOL requests and help you respond by the deadline.
Virtual Audit Prep
Most audits today are completed online or through remote document submission. You get a clear, upload-ready system so the right files are sent the first time—reducing delays, follow-ups, and confusion.
Audit Dispute Support
If your audit results don’t look right, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Your records are reviewed to identify discrepancies, organize supporting documentation, and help you take the right next step with clear, defensible information.
How the Premium Audit Process Works, Step by Step
Any premium audit, whether workers' comp, general liability or a Department of Labor review, becomes manageable when you know what happens next. Our process keeps your records organized and your audit on schedule.
01
Initial Review of Your Situation
You share your audit notice and the records you have, and we confirm which policy is being audited, the audit format and the deadline.
02
Document Collection & Organization
Payroll, tax filings, subcontractor certificates and classification details are gathered into one organized set that matches what the auditor requested.
03
Audit Review & Premium Calculation
We review your records for gaps and classification issues, then calculate the expected premium before anything is submitted, so you know whether you are likely to owe more or receive a return premium.
04
Submission Preparation
Everything is prepared in the format your auditor uses, whether online, paper or in person.
05
Follow-Through & Support
If the auditor has questions or the results don't match your records, we help you respond clearly and keep the audit moving to completion.
Premium Audit Questions From New York Business Owners
Why is my insurance company doing a premium audit?
Your carrier audits the policy because your premium was set using estimated payroll, sales or subcontractor costs at the start of the term. The audit checks those estimates against your actual figures so the premium matches the exposure the policy really covered. It is a routine part of the policy, not a sign that something is wrong.
Do premium audits happen every year?
Most workers' comp and general liability policies are audited at the end of every policy term, which for most businesses means once a year. Pay-as-you-go policies still require a completed audit. Some carriers also run an interim audit during the term when payroll or operations change.
What records will the auditor ask for?
Most auditors ask for payroll records, federal and state tax filings, employee job duties or class codes, and certificates of insurance for subcontractors. General liability audits may also call for sales figures or subcontractor costs. Having these organized before the audit prevents follow-up requests and delays.
What happens if I don't complete my premium audit?
If records are not submitted, the carrier can issue an estimated audit based on assumed figures rather than your actual payroll. Estimated audits often bill well above what you truly owe, and an unresolved audit can put your coverage at risk. If you have already received an estimated audit, our audit dispute support can help you submit your real records and ask the carrier to revise the bill.
Can I dispute my premium audit results?
Yes. If the audit used the wrong class codes, counted subcontractors who were insured, or relied on estimates, you can ask the carrier to review the results with supporting documentation. We compare the audit to your records, identify the discrepancies and organize the documentation for your request.
Is a NYS Department of Labor audit the same as a carrier premium audit?
No. A carrier premium audit is performed by your insurance company to settle the premium on your policy, while a Department of Labor audit is a state review of your unemployment insurance reporting and worker classification. The two often call for overlapping payroll records, and we help with both.
Who can help me prepare for a premium audit in New York?
We serve employers throughout New York State from our office in Williamsville, with audits handled in person or remotely. Our core region is Western New York, including Buffalo and Erie and Niagara counties, and we also support businesses in Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
Support Beyond the Audit, Built Around Your Business
An audit often raises questions about coverage and compliance, and every type of business brings its own records to the table.
Workers' Comp Compliance Consulting
When an audit turns up a coverage gap or a Workers' Compensation Board notice, we help you address noncompliance, penalties and stop-work orders.
Contractors
For contractors managing subcontractor certificates and jobsite classifications across multiple projects.
Staffing Agencies
For agencies tracking employee duties and class codes across client sites.
Small Businesses
For owners handling an audit notice or an unexpected bill without an in-house insurance team.
Start Your Premium Audit With Your Own Numbers
Send us your audit notice and we will tell you what the auditor needs, how your records line up and what the result is likely to be. Email is the fastest way to start, and you can also use our contact form or call us. You can review our
audit assistance pricing before you reach out.