Business Tax Guides
WSIB for Ontario business owners
Whether you, as an incorporated owner, need WSIB coverage, what premiums cost in 2026, and how often you report them.
Short answer: most Ontario businesses with employees must register with the WSIB and pay premiums on payroll. As an incorporated owner outside construction, you are an executive officer and are not covered unless you apply for optional insurance. In construction, owners must generally be covered, with limited exemptions.
2026 numbers at a glance
Average premium rate
$1.23
per $100 of insurable payroll in 2026. Your own rate depends on your industry class and claims history.
Maximum insurable earnings
$121,700
per worker in 2026, up from $117,000 in 2025. No premium is charged on pay above it.
Premium at the ceiling
~$1,497
per worker per year at the average rate. Low-risk office classes pay well under that; construction pays much more.
Sources: WSIB 2026 premium rates.
Do you need WSIB coverage?
WSIB coverage is not mandatory for every business. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act lists which industries and which types of workers must be covered, and businesses outside that list can apply voluntarily.
| Your situation | Coverage for employees | Coverage for you |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation with employees, not construction | Required if your industry is listed | Not covered unless you apply for optional insurance |
| Corporation with no employees, not construction | Nothing to report for payroll | Optional insurance only |
| Construction corporation with employees, or with several executive officers | Required | Required, but one executive officer who does no construction work can apply for an exemption |
| Construction corporation with one executive officer and no employees | No payroll to report | Required: the one-officer exemption does not apply |
| Sole proprietor or independent operator in construction | Required if you have workers | Required |
Without coverage, an owner who is injured gets no WSIB benefits. Optional insurance is worth pricing if you do physical work or have no disability insurance.
How premiums are calculated
Your premium is your rate per $100 multiplied by insurable earnings: the gross pay of your workers before tax and deductions, capped at $121,700 per worker for 2026.
For example, an office business in a class at $0.72 per $100 with two staff earning $60,000 each pays $864 a year. A worker earning $150,000 counts only to $121,700.
How you pay yourself affects this. Dividends are not payroll, so an owner paid by dividends generally adds nothing to insurable earnings. If you are covered in construction or under optional insurance, check how the WSIB sets your covered earnings before relying on that. See salary vs. dividends.
How often to report and pay
| Annual insurable payroll | Report and pay | Due |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 or more | Monthly | Last day of the following month |
| $20,000 to $999,999 | Quarterly | April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31 |
| Under $20,000 | Annually | April 30 of the following year |
You report even when payroll is nil. If actual payroll runs higher than the estimate you gave the WSIB, update it promptly; late reporting and payment carry fees. Source: WSIB, how to report and pay.
Independent contractors and clearance certificates
Calling someone a contractor does not settle it. The WSIB decides whether a person is a worker based on how the work is actually done, and in construction an independent operator must carry their own coverage.
If you hire contractors, get a WSIB clearance certificate before you pay them, and renew it during long jobs. Without one, you can be held responsible for premiums the contractor did not pay.
Common questions
Do I need WSIB if I am the only person in my corporation?
Outside construction, generally no: you are an executive officer and are not covered unless you apply for optional insurance. In construction, a one-officer corporation with no employees must have coverage.
What are WSIB rates in Ontario for 2026?
The average is $1.23 per $100 of insurable payroll, but each business pays the rate for its industry class, adjusted for its claims history. Your 2026 rate is in your WSIB online account.
Are WSIB premiums deductible?
Yes. Premiums paid by the business are a deductible business expense.
Is WSIB the same as CPP or EI?
No. CPP and EI are federal payroll deductions remitted to the CRA. WSIB is a separate Ontario premium paid entirely by the employer.
Not sure where WSIB fits in your pay plan?
Book a free consultation. I will look at your salary, dividends and payroll filings together, including WSIB, so nothing is missed at year-end.
General information, current as at November 2026. It is not advice on your situation, and reading it does not create a professional relationship. Rates and thresholds change, and the right answer depends on facts specific to you.