U-3 / U-3S form (Ohio): the workers' comp owner exemption
Application for Ohio Workers’ Compensation Coverage / Elective Coverage Change. Who can file it, where to get it, how to file, the fee, when it takes effect, and how often it renews — from Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
U-3 / U-3S filing snapshot
FormU-3 / U-3S — Application for Ohio Workers’ Compensation Coverage / Elective Coverage Change
Issuing bodyOhio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
Filing methodUse U-3 when opening coverage and U-3S to add or cancel elective owner coverage after the policy is established.
Fee$120 non-refundable initial U-3 policy application fee; no separate U-3S filing fee verified
Common mistakeOhio’s listed owners are generally asking to elect personal coverage, not to obtain an exemption certificate. Premium applies when elective coverage is added.
When it takes effectFor a later U-3S election, elective coverage is added on the date BWC receives the completed application and applicable premiums are charged; initial U-3 coverage begins when the completed application and $120 fee are successfully submitted/received.
RenewalElective coverage renews each July and continues until BWC receives a written cancellation request or coverage otherwise lapses/changes.
Watch out forThe $120 charge is the initial U-3 policy application fee, not an exemption fee. U-3S adds/cancels elective owner coverage.
Get the U-3 / U-3S from Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
Which Ohio owners can use the U-3 / U-3S
Sole proprietorPersonal workers' compensation is elective. A qualifying sole proprietor may elect coverage using U-3 when opening the policy or U-3S later.
LLC memberBWC's current elective-coverage list includes an LLC acting as a sole proprietor and an LLC acting as a partnership. Match the LLC to the listed entity treatment before assuming a member is elective.
PartnerPersonal workers' compensation is elective for partners/limited partners; qualifying owners may elect coverage using U-3 or U-3S.
Corporate officerOrdinary executive corporate officers are generally payroll-reportable. BWC separately lists family-farm corporate officers and an individual incorporated as a corporation with no employees (I-Corp) as elective-coverage categories.
Employee threshold: Ohio's employer definition generally reaches a private business with one or more employees. Several owner categories are outside ordinary employee treatment unless they elect personal BWC coverage. In construction: The cited owner-coverage sources do not create a separate construction head-count threshold. The company must maintain BWC coverage for employees; owner elective coverage is analyzed separately from the workforce obligation.
Read the full context in the Ohio workers' comp exemption guide, or run the eligibility screener to check your entity type first.
U-3 / U-3S form (Ohio): frequently asked questions
- Where do I get the U-3 / U-3S form in Ohio?
- The U-3 / U-3S (Application for Ohio Workers’ Compensation Coverage / Elective Coverage Change) is issued by Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Use U-3 when opening coverage and U-3S to add or cancel elective owner coverage after the policy is established. 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 U-3 / U-3S in Ohio?
- $120 non-refundable initial U-3 policy application fee; no separate U-3S filing fee verified
- How often does the U-3 / U-3S exemption renew in Ohio?
- Elective coverage renews each July and continues until BWC receives a written cancellation request or coverage otherwise lapses/changes. Watch out: The $120 charge is the initial U-3 policy application fee, not an exemption fee. U-3S adds/cancels elective owner coverage.
Where this comes from
The U-3 / U-3S entry is anchored to Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation — the state agency that issues and processes the form — not a generalized summary. Source-checked 2026-09-10.