To ensure you’re getting the best experience with ACC and not overpaying, here are some practical steps and tips to help you navigate the process as a business owner:
1. Use MyACC for business self-service portal.
The MyACC for business portal is a self-service account which provides any business owner who pays levies, with the opportunity to keep in contact with their key business information. It’s easy to create an account via, Google, Real Me, or Microsoft. It takes less than 5 mins to set up and it’s free. You can use the account to update your details, view your levy invoice, change your levy classification unit, pay invoices, see any workplace subsidies available, utilise the chat function, and view your employee’s workplace injuries claims. Your tax advisors /agent can also access your portal.
Tip: Engaging with ACC via this portal provides the business owner with information and knowledge prior to levy invoices release.
2. Review Your ACC Levies Regularly
It’s easy to set and forget when it comes to ACC levies, but this can lead to overpayments. Your levies are based on the type of work you do, how much you pay your employees and your workplace injury record. If your business has changed over the past year—whether you've taken on more contractors, reduced staff, or changed the nature of your work—you should review your levy classification to make sure it's accurate. You should also review all the workplace accidents listed against your company to ensure that ACC has this information correct. Human error can occur and at times accidents can be attributed to your organisation that should not be.
Tip: Regularly log in to your MyACC for Business account and check your levy invoice. If it doesn’t match your current situation, get in touch with ACC to discuss it. You have the right to lodge a review if you disagree with the invoice.
3. Understand Your CoverPlus and CoverPlus Extra Options
ACC’s standard product for self-employed people is CoverPlus, but did you know that CoverPlus Extra could be a better option for you? With CoverPlus Extra, you can negotiate an agreed level of cover with ACC. This means that if you can’t work due to injury, you’ll receive a pre-agreed payment, regardless of how much your business earns at that time. This can provide you with better peace of mind, especially if your income fluctuates.
Tip: If your income varies throughout the year or you have high business costs that would continue if you were injured, consider CoverPlus Extra. It allows you to lock in a level of cover that better matches your needs.
4. Make Use of Workplace Safety Discounts
Did you know that ACC offers discounts to some businesses with effective workplace safety practices? If you invest in health and safety programmes, you may be eligible for a reduction in your ACC levies through the Workplace Safety Discount. This recognises businesses that actively work to reduce workplace injuries.
Tip: Look into ACC’s workplace safety programmes. Not only do they reduce risk, but they can also save you money on levies in the long run.
5. Be Aware of Your Obligations as an Employer
As a business owner, you’re responsible for ensuring your employees are covered by ACC if they’re injured at work. But are you aware of what you should do if an injury happens? It’s essential to have a clear plan in place for how to support your employees if they need to take time off due to injury and what your obligations are under the ACC scheme.
Tip: Have a process in place for reporting injuries and supporting employees through their recovery and return to work. This can help ensure that both your business and your employees are looked after.
6. Check for ACC Overpayments
In some cases, businesses may end up overpaying their ACC levies. This often happens when an employer is covering the same person twice—once as an employee and once as a contractor, or if any injury has been incorrectly recorded as happening in the workplace when in fact it was an injury that happened at home, or outside of work-time. These kinds of errors can have significant effect on not just the levy for the year in question but may impact the levies for the next 3 years (very similar to how an insurance claim on your house insurance can result in an increase in your premiums).
Tip: If you employ someone who also works as a contractor, double-check that you’re not paying levies twice. Also check that the injuries are correctly recorded. ACC may refund any overpayments if they’ve occurred.
7. Know What You’re Entitled to if You’re Injured
As a business owner, it’s important to know that you have the same rights as any employee when it comes to injury cover. If you’re injured and unable to work, you’re entitled to weekly compensation from ACC, which is based on your income. However, if you don’t know how this works or what you’re entitled to, you could be missing out.
Tip: Keep detailed records of your income and business expenses, so that if you do need to make a claim, ACC can assess it fairly based on accurate information.
