Changes Proposed to DWC Form-005
On November 17, 2017, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) released a draft revised DWC Form-005, which is used to inform the TDI-DWC that an employer either has no workers' compensation coverage or is terminating its workers' compensation coverage. Although the information requested on the proposed revised Form is still contained in the new Form, the proposed revisions change the way that required information is arranged with the intention of making it easier for employers to know what is needed to be included on the Form.
While the content of the Form remains unchanged, the "frequently asked questions" have been revised to include additional questions. Those new questions include the following:
- How do I determine my filing period start date?
- How do I determine my filing period end date?
- What is a NAICS code?
- Are any fields on the DWC Form-005 optional?
Additionally, the proposed revised version of the Form removes the requirement that an employer file a Termination of Coverage noticed by certified mail. That requirement was removed during the last legislative session, and the proposed revised version of the Form reflects this.
The TDI-TWC is accepting comments on the proposed revised version of DWC Form-005 through December 1, 2017.