US Surplus Lines Compliance: All 50 States
Surplus lines filing requirements, tax rates, stamping office obligations, and state privacy laws for every US state. Built for brokers, MGAs, and compliance teams operating across multiple jurisdictions.
The Non-Admitted Market Across 50 Jurisdictions
Every US state maintains its own surplus lines regulatory framework — from stamping office requirements to premium tax rates to diligent search standards. The Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA) of 2010 simplified multi-state placements, but home-state compliance remains complex and consequential.
Below is the complete state-by-state guide. Five states require all surplus lines transactions to be filed with a dedicated stamping or service office. Most states use self-reporting to the Department of Insurance. Premium tax rates range from 2% (Michigan, Washington) to 6% (Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina).
States with Stamping / Service Offices (8 states)
All 50 States — Surplus Lines Compliance Guides
States with Consumer Privacy Laws Affecting Insurance
These states have enacted comprehensive consumer data privacy laws that create additional compliance obligations for insurers, brokers, and TPAs handling policyholder data.
Key Surplus Lines Concepts for Multi-State Operations
- NRRA Home State Rule
- Under the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act, only the insured's home state collects surplus lines premium tax. For a business domiciled in California, SLSO collects 100% of the tax even if exposures are in 10 states.
- Diligent Search Requirement
- Before placing in the non-admitted market, brokers must document that admitted carriers have declined or cannot provide the coverage. Requirements vary by state from one to three declinations.
- Eligible Surplus Lines Insurer
- Non-admitted carriers must appear on the state's list of eligible surplus lines insurers. Placing with non-eligible carriers exposes the broker to license suspension and personal liability for the premium tax.
- Surplus Lines Disclosure
- All states require that insureds receive a written notice explaining that surplus lines coverage is placed with a non-admitted carrier not regulated by the state guaranty fund. The exact language varies by state.
Automate Surplus Lines Compliance Across All 50 States
Regure tracks filing deadlines, validates documentation, calculates premium tax, and generates audit trails for every non-admitted placement — whatever state your risk is domiciled in.