Form 61A, the Contractor’s Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance, is the certification a contractor completes for the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue. It reports the contractor’s workers’ compensation coverage, or, if the contractor lists none, the number of employees and subcontractor workers. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the city publishes the form at nnva.gov, and you return it to the Commissioner of the Revenue.
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What is 61A?
Form 61A, Contractor’s Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance, is the form on which a contractor tells the local Commissioner of the Revenue whether the business carries Virginia workers’ compensation coverage and certifies compliance with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act.
The form collects the contractor’s name and trade name, Federal Employer ID (FEIN) or Tax ID number, mailing and business addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail address, business type (Corp., L.L.C., Sole Prop, Partnership or Other) and type of trade or industry. A contractor with coverage then lists the insuring entity, the policy, master policy or certificate number and the policy dates. A contractor who lists no coverage answers questions about employees and subcontractors.
By signing, the applicant certifies under penalty of perjury that they are duly authorized by the business license applicant to execute the certificate, that the information is correct, and that the business complies with Chapter 8 of Title 65.2 of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act and will stay in compliance during the effective period of the business license. The form notes that failure to insure when required by law subjects an employer to civil penalties under Virginia Code § 65.2-805.
Form 61A covers workers’ compensation only. It is not a general liability or other insurance filing, and the instructions say no other form of insurance substitutes.
Who needs to file 61A?
Contractors who apply for a business license and must certify their workers’ compensation status complete Form 61A. The instructions say the contractor completes it and that all information requested is required. The signer must be the applicant (contractor) or someone duly authorized by the business license applicant to execute the certificate.
How the form treats different contractors:
- Contractors with coverage list the workers’ compensation insurer or other insuring entity: a carrier licensed in Virginia, a self-insured business with a certificate of authorization from the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, a Group Self-Insurance Association (GSIA) licensed by the State Corporation Commission, or a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) registered in Virginia.
- Contractors without coverage listed must answer whether they have more than two part-time or full-time employees, whether they hire independent contractors or subcontractors with employees, and how many subcontractor workers assist them.
- Out-of-state contractors need valid Virginia workers’ compensation coverage for work performed in Virginia. The instructions say a contractor may get it through a Virginia Amendatory Endorsement adding Virginia to Item 3A of the policy.
The instructions state that Virginia requires every employer who regularly employs more than two part-time or full-time employees to buy and maintain workers’ compensation insurance, and that subcontractors’ employees count toward that total even if the subcontractor has its own coverage.
When to file 61A
The form ties the certification to the business license: the signer certifies that the business is in compliance and will remain so during the effective period of the business license. Complete Form 61A when you are certifying workers’ compensation status for that license. No separate due date is printed on the form or in its instructions. The policy effective and expiration dates you enter should be the ones on your current coverage. For questions about timing in Newport News, the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Business Taxes and Licensing office lists the phone number 757-926-8644.
How to fill out 61A
Enter contractor name and trade name
Under Name of Contractor, enter the last and first name, and the Contractor’s Business or Trade Name if the business operates under one. All information is required.
Provide your FEIN or Tax ID
Enter the Contractor’s Federal Employer ID (FEIN) or Tax ID Number. If no FEIN has been issued, the instructions say a Temporary FEIN may be obtained from the Virginia Tax Dept.
Enter addresses and contact details
Complete the Contractor’s Mailing Address (city, state, ZIP) and, if different, the business address. Add the home telephone, business telephone and e-mail address.
Select business type and headcount
Check Corp., L.L.C., Sole Prop, Partnership or Other. Enter the number of officers for a corporation, paid members for an LLC, or partners for a partnership.
State your type of trade or industry
Enter the type of trade or industry in which the business is classified.
List workers’ compensation coverage
If you have coverage, check the type: carrier licensed in Virginia, self-insured, GSIA or PEO. Enter the full name of the carrier or insuring entity, with its NCCI code if applicable, and list workers’ compensation only.
Enter policy number and dates
Enter the Policy, Master Policy or Certificate Number, the Policy Effective Date and the Policy Expiration Date. Do not list an insurance agent or agency.
Answer questions if no coverage listed
If you did not list workers’ compensation insurance, answer question 1 (more than two part-time or full-time employees) and question 2 (independent contractors or subcontractors with employees), and give the number of subcontractor workers.
Check out-of-state coverage rules
If you are an out-of-state contractor, confirm your policy covers work in Virginia, for example through a Virginia Amendatory Endorsement adding Virginia to Item 3A.
Sign, date and print your name
The applicant (contractor) signs and dates the certification and prints their name. The signer certifies under penalty of perjury that the information is correct.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every required entry is complete and legible, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and return it to your local Commissioner of the Revenue as described under How to submit.
How to submit 61A
The form says to return the completed Form 61A to your local Commissioner of the Revenue; the list of localities is at https://www.vacomrev.com/who-we-are/districts-localities/. The form prints no mailing address or online portal of its own.
For Newport News, the Commissioner of the Revenue’s forms page lists these locations and hours (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM):
- Downtown Office / City Hall Office: 2400 Washington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607. Main office phone: 757-926-8752.
- Denbigh Office: 12912 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA 23608. Office phone: 757-886-7671.
- 24-Hour Dropbox: located at each office; a dropbox-only site is at 700 Town Center Dr. (City Center).
Business Taxes and Licensing can be reached at 757-926-8644. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing general liability or another type of insurance; the form asks for workers’ compensation only and the instructions say no other insurance substitutes.
- Entering the name of an insurance agent or agency instead of the complete name of the insurance company or insuring entity.
- Leaving required information blank; the instructions state that all information requested is required.
- Skipping the employee and subcontractor questions when no workers’ compensation insurance is listed.
- Not counting subcontractors’ employees toward the more-than-two-employees test, even when the subcontractor has its own coverage.
- Submitting an out-of-state contractor’s policy without Virginia coverage; the instructions call for a Virginia Amendatory Endorsement adding Virginia to Item 3A.
- Signing without being the applicant or a person duly authorized by the business license applicant.
- Mailing or delivering the form to an office other than your local Commissioner of the Revenue.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form 61A in Newport News?
Form 61A is the Contractor’s Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance returned to the Commissioner of the Revenue. The contractor lists workers’ compensation coverage, or answers employee and subcontractor questions, and certifies compliance with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act.
Who has to complete Form 61A?
The contractor completes it, and the instructions say all information requested is required. The signer must be the applicant or a person duly authorized by the business license applicant to execute the certificate.
Where do I return Form 61A in Newport News?
Return it to your local Commissioner of the Revenue. In Newport News, the offices are at 2400 Washington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607 and 12912 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA 23608, and each has a 24-hour dropbox. The form prints no mailing address.
What if I have no workers’ compensation insurance?
Leave the insurance section blank and answer the questions on the form: whether you have more than two part-time or full-time employees, whether you hire independent contractors or subcontractors with employees, and how many subcontractor workers assist you.
Do subcontractors’ employees count as my employees?
For deciding whether coverage is required, yes. The instructions say a business that hires subcontractors must count the subcontractors’ employees, even if the subcontractor has its own workers’ compensation coverage.
Does an out-of-state contractor need Virginia coverage?
Yes. The instructions say Virginia requires valid Virginia workers’ compensation coverage for work performed in Virginia. A contractor may obtain it with a Virginia Amendatory Endorsement that adds Virginia to Item 3A of the policy.
Can I fill out Form 61A online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form to the city; you return it to the Commissioner of the Revenue yourself.
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