WSIB for Ontario contractors, explained.
In construction, WSIB is not optional paperwork. It has teeth. Here is what actually matters, without the runaround.
Construction goes further than most industries.
As a rule, once you hire your first worker you have to register with WSIB within 10 days. In construction, a lot of independent operators and executive officers need coverage even without employees. There are narrow exceptions, but assume you are in unless you have confirmed otherwise.
Three mistakes that surface in an audit.
- Under-reporting insurable earnings, which shows up in an audit with interest and penalties.
- Treating someone as a subcontractor when they really work like an employee.
- Skipping clearance certificates before paying, or being paid by, another party.
Where a CFO actually helps.
Clean payroll and clearance checks built into your accounts-payable process make a WSIB audit a non-event. That is workflow, which is my lane. If your ServiceTitan or Jobber payroll data does not tie to the books, the audit risk lives there. See the systems work and the T5018 guide.
Worried about a WSIB audit?
The $750 plus HST Diagnostic Audit covers the systems and workflow side, so nothing bites you at year end.
General information for Ontario businesses, current at the time of writing. Not tax, legal or accounting advice. Confirm your situation with a professional. Steel City CFO can help.