LLC member workers comp in South Dakota
South Dakota does not require LLC members to cover themselves. Single-member LLCs and member-managed LLCs typically elect out, lowering premium but giving up workers comp benefits if a member is injured at work. Verified 2026-05-09.
How LLC member coverage works in South Dakota
An LLC is a hybrid entity, members are owners but the LLC itself is the legal employer for any W-2 hires. South Dakota does not require LLC members to cover themselves. Single-member LLCs and member-managed LLCs typically elect out, lowering premium but giving up workers comp benefits if a member is injured at work. The default treatment depends on whether the LLC is single-member or multi-member, and whether it is member-managed or manager-managed.
Single-member LLC
A single-member LLC is generally treated like a sole proprietorship for tax and workers comp purposes. The member is not an employee of the LLC unless they elect to be. In South Dakota, single-member LLCs typically elect out of self-coverage; if the LLC has W-2 employees, the policy covers them only.
Multi-member LLC
A multi-member LLC is treated as a partnership unless it elects S-corp status. Members are not employees of the LLC, so workers comp historically did not apply to them. South Dakota preserves that default, members are excluded by default and the policy rates only W-2 payroll. Manager-managed LLCs sometimes treat one manager as a covered employee while excluding the rest.
Cost for an LLC in South Dakota
Premium is rated on payroll. If members elect in, the carrier rates each member's draw at a state-minimum payroll figure. The class code that matches the member's actual duties drives the rate per $100. A solo member-elected-in LLC on a clerical code typically pays the carrier minimum (around $250 to $500); a contractor LLC with two members elected in plus three W-2 employees can run from a few thousand to tens of thousands depending on payroll and risk. South Dakota carriers can apply schedule credits up to 25% for low-loss accounts.
Related reading
FAQs
Do LLC members need workers comp in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not require LLC members to cover themselves. Single-member LLCs and member-managed LLCs typically elect out, lowering premium but giving up workers comp benefits if a member is injured at work.
When does an South Dakota LLC have to start carrying workers comp?
Employers with one or more employees are generally required to carry workers' compensation insurance. For an LLC with no W-2 employees, the threshold may not trigger; once the LLC hires its first employee, the rule applies.
What if an LLC in South Dakota skips workers comp?
An uninsured employer may be sued in civil court by an injured worker.
Are LLC member draws rated as payroll in South Dakota?
If a member is included in the policy, the carrier typically rates the member's draw at a minimum payroll set by the state (often around $50,000 annualized for South Dakota, sometimes capped at a maximum). The class code that fits the member's actual job duties drives the rate per $100. If the member elects out by filing an exclusion, draws are not rated and the member has no comp benefit.
Can a single-member LLC in South Dakota skip coverage?
A single-member LLC with no employees typically does not need workers comp at all in South Dakota; the coverage threshold usually requires at least one employee. Once the LLC hires its first employee, the member can still elect out of self-coverage and only insure the W-2 employees.