How Employers With 51 -100 Employees Can Meet Their CalSavers Deadline

The CalSavers Program applies to employers that do not maintain a retirement plan.  It automatically enrolls eligible employees in a state-managed system of Roth IRA accounts. June 30, 2021 is the deadline by which employers with 51 to 100 California employees must either establish that they are exempt from CalSavers (for instance, because they have their own plan) or enroll in the program.  Employers with more than 100 California employees were required to enroll by September 30, 2020. 

Although under legal attack for some time, on the grounds that the federal benefits law, ERISA, prohibited a state-run retirement program, the CalSavers program was just upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Money penalties apply to employers who don’t timely either establish their exempt status, or participate in the program.  Below is a how-to for employers in the 51+ group, who have approximately six weeks until their CalSavers deadline arrives:

1. Already have a retirement plan (including a SEP or SIMPLE)?  Register to certify your exemption.  The link is here.  You will need your federal Employer Identification Number or Tax Identification Number and an access code that is provided on a notice you should have received from CalSavers via email or snail mail.  If you can’t find your notice, call (855) 650-6916. 
2. Don’t have a retirement plan?  Consider establishing one in the time period left.  IRS Publication 560 contains information about setting up a SEP, SIMPLE, or a 401(k) plan for your small business.  Investment advisors to your business and even business CPAs can also help.  Don’t do it on your own, get expert advice as your choice of plan will have consequences!
3. Don’t have a plan and don’t want one?  Register with CalSavers.  Again, you need your EIN, or TIN, and an access code.  If you don’t have an access code you can request one using this link. After you register, you will have 30 days to upload your employee roster and facilitate payroll contributions.  If you use an outside payroll provider, you will need to add them as your payroll representative.  More information on adding payroll representatives is provided once you register.
4. Need more information about counting employees towards the 51 employee threshold?  Check out our prior blog post on the topic, which includes a discussion of use of staffing companies and the like, and also visit the CalSavers FAQ re eligibility.

The above information is a brief summary of legal developments that is provided for general guidance only and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Readers are encouraged to seek individualized legal advice in regard to any particular factual situation. © 2021 Christine P. Roberts, all rights reserved.

Photo credit Levi Meir Clancy, Unsplash