Premium Audit

What Is an Insurance Premium Audit?

The primary purpose of a premium audit is to calculate your final premium. When your policy was issued, the premium was an estimate of an exposure basis (usually payroll or sales) multiplied by a rate. The rate used is determined by how the exposure base is classified. The audit will examine your records to establish the actual exposure basis and make sure that the correct classification codes and rates are used in determining your final premium. Because the original premium was an estimate, the audit will most likely result in a change of premium and/or classifications for your business.

Premium audits are commonly performed on General Liability, Liquor Liability and Workers Compensation policies. By auditing these policies, we can make sure that your business pays the correct premium. Typically, information from the audit will generate either a bill or a refund. In addition, the premium audit can provide valuable information about your business operations.

You will be contacted about completing a premium audit after the policy expires or is canceled.

The audit process is designed as a service to you that guarantees you only pay the premium that you owe.  

For more information, download our Audit Pamphlet.

Types of Audits

Physical Audit:

A physical audit is an on-site review of your business records by a Society Insurance representative. If your business records are located at an address other than your policy address, such as an outside accountant, please notify the auditor.

Mail Audit:

If a physical audit isn’t performed, you’ll be asked to complete an audit through the mail. You will be asked to include supporting records, such as copies of tax reports.

Preliminary Audit (for Assigned Risk Pool Policies):

At the beginning of your policy term, the auditor will review a representative period in order to project the premium for the full policy term.

Standard Information

Requested at Time of Audit

Listed below is typical information an auditor may request at the time of audit. If there are multiple companies or multiple entities insured under one policy, the auditor will request this information for each company or entity.

General Information

• Description of company operations
• Officers/owners names and titles
• Employee names and job duties
• Number of employees at each location
• Names of subcontractors and certificates of insurance for subcontractors

Payroll Records

• Gross pay including, but not limited to: bonuses, commissions, holiday pay, sick pay, overtime pay, vacation pay and all pretax amounts
• Pretax/Section 125 amounts/401(k) amounts
• Overtime pay shown separately 

Subcontractor Information

• General ledger, cash disbursements book and checkbook register

Tax Documents to Verify Payroll/Sales Records and Federal ID Number

• 941, 940, 1099, W-2, W-3, income tax return, etc.

Sales

• Gross sales for each type of service provided/work performed by location
• Profit and loss statement
• General ledger

Additional Information Typically Requested for Restaurant, Tavern & Fast Food Audits

• Tips shown separately
• Number of free meals given to employees
• Live entertainment
• Liquor sales and total sales to determine proper class for Workers Compensation

More Questions?

Mail:   
Society Insurance, Premium Audit Department
150 Camleot Drive
P.O. Box 1029
Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1029

Phone:   
920-922-1220
800-242-9703 ext. 620

Fax:     
920-922-3710

Email:   
premiumaudit@societyinsurance.com

For additional questions, please contact your agent. For the name of your local independent insurance agent representing Society Insurance, call 888-5-SOCIETY (888-576-2438).