Form 29 (Vermont): the workers' comp owner exemption
Application to Exclude Corporate Officers or LLC Members From Workers’ Compensation Coverage. Who can file it, where to get it, how to file, the fee, when it takes effect, and how often it renews — from Vermont Department of Labor.
Form 29 filing snapshot
FormForm 29 — Application to Exclude Corporate Officers or LLC Members From Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Issuing bodyVermont Department of Labor
Filing methodSubmit Form 29 with required organizational documentation for Commissioner approval.
FeeNo separate filing fee verified
Common mistakeForm 29 applies to qualifying corporate officers and LLC managers/members; sole proprietors/partners use a different statutory framework.
When it takes effectAfter Commissioner approval, and no earlier than the date the Commissioner received a complete application with the required minutes or affidavit.
RenewalUntil rescinded; the approved exclusion remains effective without a fixed annual renewal interval.
Watch out forApproved Form 29 remains effective until rescinded. A corporation/LLC may exclude no more than four qualifying officers/members under this route.
Which Vermont owners can use the Form 29
Sole proprietorA sole proprietor of an unincorporated business may be outside the employee definition when the six statutory independent-business conditions in §601(14)(F) are satisfied. The written service agreement must expressly address independent status and the election not to purchase workers' compensation.
LLC memberWith Commissioner approval, an LLC may exclude up to four managers or members using Form 29. If all managers/members are approved for exclusion and the LLC has no employees, the LLC need not purchase workers' compensation coverage.
PartnerA partner owner of an unincorporated business may be outside the employee definition under §601(14)(F) when the statutory independent-business and written-agreement conditions are met. Employees of the partnership are not swept into the owner's exclusion.
Corporate officerA corporation may apply to exclude up to four executive officers using Form 29. If all corporate officers are approved for exclusion and the corporation has no employees, the corporation need not purchase coverage; a director who is not an officer and not otherwise an employee does not need Form 29 under Rule 25.
Employee threshold: Employers must secure workers' compensation for employees unless the worker falls within a statutory exclusion. A sole proprietor or partner owner of an unincorporated business can be outside employee status under the conditions in 21 V.S.A. §601(14)(F); corporations and LLCs use a separate Commissioner-approved exclusion process for qualifying owners/managers. In construction: Vermont does not publish a separate general construction employee-count minimum. Contractor classification is important: a hiring business should verify whether the worker has coverage or a valid exclusion, and employees of a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or LLC remain subject to the employer's coverage duty.
Read the full context in the Vermont workers' comp exemption guide, or run the eligibility screener to check your entity type first.
Form 29 (Vermont): frequently asked questions
- Where do I get the Form 29 form in Vermont?
- The Form 29 (Application to Exclude Corporate Officers or LLC Members From Workers’ Compensation Coverage) is issued by Vermont Department of Labor. Submit Form 29 with required organizational documentation for Commissioner approval. 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 Form 29 in Vermont?
- No separate filing fee has been verified for this form.
- How often does the Form 29 exemption renew in Vermont?
- Until rescinded; the approved exclusion remains effective without a fixed annual renewal interval. Watch out: Approved Form 29 remains effective until rescinded. A corporation/LLC may exclude no more than four qualifying officers/members under this route.
Where this comes from
The Form 29 entry is anchored to Vermont Department of Labor — the state agency that issues and processes the form — not a generalized summary. Source-checked 2026-09-02.