IC-16 form (Maryland): the workers' comp owner exemption
Exclusion Form. Who can file it, where to get it, how to file, the fee, when it takes effect, and how often it renews — from Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission.
IC-16 filing snapshot
FormIC-16 — Exclusion Form
Issuing bodyMaryland Workers’ Compensation Commission
Filing methodUse CompHub/current Commission filing workflow for §9-206 exclusions; retain/provide the IC-16 election record as directed, including insurer copy when applicable.
FeeNo separate filing fee verified
Common mistakeQualifying compensated officers/LLC members begin as covered employees and may elect exclusion under specific ownership/category rules. Sole proprietors/partners use different elective-in rules.
When it takes effectOn acceptance/recording of the §9-206 exclusion filing under the Commission workflow.
RenewalNo fixed universal renewal interval identified; refile/review when ownership, entity, officer/member status, or policy facts change.
Watch out forCompHub is the current exclusion workflow; sole proprietors and partners use different statutory personal-coverage rules.
Get the IC-16 from Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission
Which Maryland owners can use the IC-16
Sole proprietorA sole proprietor is not a covered employee unless the proprietor elects coverage under §9-227 and devotes full time to the business. The election requires written notice to the Commission and insurer.
LLC memberA compensated LLC member is a covered employee, but a member owning at least 20% of the outstanding interests in profits may elect exemption under §9-206. The LLC must submit written notice to the Commission and insurer; CompHub provides the current public exclusion workflow.
PartnerA partner is not a covered employee unless the partnership elects to cover a full-time partner under §9-219. The election becomes effective only after written notice to the Commission and insurer.
Corporate officerA compensated corporate officer is a covered employee unless a §9-206 category applies. Close-corporation officers may elect exclusion; up to five officers of a non-close corporation may do so; farm-corporation and professional-corporation officers have specific 20% ownership conditions described in the statute.
Employee threshold: With few exceptions, a Maryland employer with one or more employees must provide workers' compensation coverage. The owner analysis is separate: sole proprietors and partners are outside coverage by default unless they elect in, while compensated corporate officers and LLC members begin as covered employees but certain qualifying owners may elect exclusion under Labor and Employment §9-206. In construction: Maryland does not publish a separate construction employee-count threshold in the cited WCC materials; the one-or-more-employee rule remains the starting point. Construction and other contracting work adds principal-contractor exposure under §9-508 and classification risk under Maryland's Workplace Fraud Act, so owner status does not by itself settle responsibility for subcontractor labor.
Read the full context in the Maryland workers' comp exemption guide, or run the eligibility screener to check your entity type first.
IC-16 form (Maryland): frequently asked questions
- Where do I get the IC-16 form in Maryland?
- The IC-16 (Exclusion Form) is issued by Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. Use CompHub/current Commission filing workflow for §9-206 exclusions; retain/provide the IC-16 election record as directed, including insurer copy when applicable. Use the official link on this page rather than a third-party copy, which may be out of date.
- Is there a fee to file the IC-16 in Maryland?
- No separate filing fee has been verified for this form.
- How often does the IC-16 exemption renew in Maryland?
- No fixed universal renewal interval identified; refile/review when ownership, entity, officer/member status, or policy facts change. Watch out: CompHub is the current exclusion workflow; sole proprietors and partners use different statutory personal-coverage rules.
Where this comes from
The IC-16 entry is anchored to Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission — the state agency that issues and processes the form — not a generalized summary. Source-checked 2026-09-02.