CalSavers: California’s Retirement Savings Program

Many workers across the country do not have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. To address retirement inequity in the United States, certain states have mandated employers to provide workers with access to retirement savings programs.

If they don’t already provide a plan, employers in states with retirement mandates are required to offer their employees the state-administered retirement program. In the state of California, this state-administered program is called CalSavers.

Not familiar with California’s retirement savings program? No problem, we’re bringing you a guide to help you better understand your retirement savings options.

Key Takeaways

• CalSavers is California’s state-administered retirement program.
• The mandate includes small businesses and sole proprietors with one or more employees.
• Opting for a 401(k) instead of the CalSavers program will allow your participants to enjoy higher contribution limits and employer contribution options.
• A 401(k) plan option can also provide tax breaks for employers, unlike CalSavers.
• Failure to enroll your company in CalSavers or adopt another qualifying retirement plan could result in penalties.

What is a CalSavers Account?

CalSavers is a Roth IRA provided to your employees. Employers are required to provide employee information, and CalSavers contacts eligible employees for enrollment. Employees that do not take action are automatically enrolled in the program at a rate of 5%. Once enrolled, employees will contribute a portion of their paycheck and employers must submit payroll contributions within 7 days of withholding amounts from employee paychecks.

Because this is a Roth IRA, participants may withdraw this money tax-free when they retire. Program participants can choose how much to contribute and what investments to place their funds into. Participants can also take their CalSavers account with them if they decide to change jobs, a feature referred to as portability.

Who is not eligible to contribute to a CalSavers Roth IRA?

Employees with a higher-than-average income may not be eligible to contribute to the CalSavers program due to income limitations on Roth IRAs. If an employee earns more than the contribution limits set by the federal government, they can choose to enroll in a traditional IRA instead of CalSavers.

What if you choose not to enroll in CalSavers?

If a business owner chooses not to comply with the state mandate by enrolling in CalSavers or providing an employer-sponsored retirement plan by the deadline, they could face consequences such as:

• Receiving a failure-to-comply notice
• Receiving a fine of $250 per employee if not enrolled 90 days after receiving the failure-to-comply notice
• Receiving a fine of $500 per employee if not enrolled 180 days after receiving the failure-to-comply notice

Is CalSavers your only retirement savings option?

CalSavers serves as an option for employers who do not currently offer any form of a retirement plan. It is not mandatory to choose CalSavers. In fact, you may find that a 401(k) retirement plan has more advantages than an IRA account.

What are the advantages of choosing a 401(k) plan?

A 401(k) plan may prove more advantageous to a business owner because it may offer more benefits to both the business owner and employees. Below are just a few examples of why choosing a 401(k) may be a better fit for your company.

• Higher contribution limits: Compared to state-mandated IRA accounts, 401(k) plans can help participants save even more for retirement in the long run. The contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is $22,500 (2023) in comparison to an IRA, which only allows contributions of up to $6,500 (2023).
• Employer matching options: Unlike state-sponsored IRAs, 401(k) accounts also allow for employer matching or profit-sharing contributions. Employers who offer a match of an employee’s contribution into their 401(k) account can help to increase employee retention and loyalty.
• Employer tax breaks: Thanks to the SECURE Act, businesses may now be eligible for up to $5,500 in employer tax credits, plus an employer contribution credit of up to $1,000 per employee.

ePlan Services provides 401(k) options for your small or medium-sized business that will reduce your administrative burden, allow your employees to make higher contributions, and even provide beneficial employer tax breaks. Plus, the participant and plan administrator dashboards allow for easy account maintenance and plan management. For more information on what an ePlan Services retirement plan can do for your business and your employees, reach out to our knowledgeable retirement sales experts today.

This content is for educational purposes only, is not intended to provide specific legal or financial advice, and should not be used as a substitute for the legal advice of a qualified attorney or financial professional. The information may not reflect the most current legal developments, may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct, or up-to-date.