Enacted — launching
Washington Retirement Plan Mandate: Requirements for Employers
Washington Saves
Washington Saves, enacted in 2024, will require businesses operating in Washington for two or more years with a physical presence and roughly five full-time-equivalent employees to offer retirement access. The official program site lists Washington Saves as coming in 2027 — no registration deadlines have been announced yet.
How the Washington Saves program works
Washington Saves is Washington State's upcoming automatic-IRA retirement program, enacted in 2024 under RCW 19.05. Once launched, it will require businesses that have operated in Washington for at least two years, maintain a physical presence in the state, and employ workers for a combined 10,400 or more hours per year (roughly five full-time equivalents) to facilitate the program for their employees — unless they already offer a qualified retirement plan.
The official program site, wasaves.com, currently describes the program as “Coming 2027.” No launch month, registration timeline, or penalty schedule has been announced; those details are pending rulemaking. Washington Saves replaces the state's earlier approach of relying solely on the voluntary Retirement Marketplace — which remains available to employers while the new program is being implemented.
For Washington employers — including the many small businesses in Leading Retirement Solutions' home state — the window before launch is an opportunity rather than a waiting room. Employers that put a qualified plan in place before the mandate takes effect satisfy the requirement from day one, capture federal startup tax credits where eligible, and keep full control over plan design, matching, and vesting.
The Washington mandate at a glance
Registration deadlines
No registration deadlines have been announced. The official Washington Saves site states the program is coming in 2027; no month or timeline has been published. Additional program guidance may be forthcoming.
Covered employers
Will apply to businesses operating in Washington for 2+ years with a physical presence in the state, employing workers for 10,400+ hours per year (roughly 5 full-time equivalents), that do not offer a qualified retirement plan.
Penalties / enforcement
Pending rulemaking. Additional program guidance may be forthcoming.
Who must comply in Washington — and what is required
Employer requirements
Once the program launches, covered employers will need to register with Washington Saves or certify that they offer a qualified retirement plan. Registration mechanics have not yet been published.
Employee eligibility
Employee eligibility details are pending rulemaking. Additional program guidance may be forthcoming.
Exemptions
Employers offering a qualified retirement plan; employers under the hours, tenure, or physical-presence thresholds. The voluntary Washington Retirement Marketplace remains available to employers while Washington Saves is being implemented.
Penalties and enforcement
Pending rulemaking. Additional program guidance may be forthcoming.
Qualifying retirement plan alternatives in Washington
Employers that sponsor a qualified retirement plan — such as a 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), 403(b), SEP, or SIMPLE — will satisfy the Washington Saves requirement. Establishing a plan before launch means the mandate never applies, and federal startup tax credits may offset much of the cost.
Start a new 401(k)
Design a plan around your workforce — matching, Roth options, vesting, and federal startup tax credits.
Start a new planUpgrade an existing plan
Confirm your current plan qualifies, then tune its design so the mandate works in your favor.
Upgrade my company’s planFull plan administration
LRS handles compliance testing, filings, and day-to-day administration so the plan stays qualified.
Plan administration servicesRead more about state-approved qualifying retirement plans.
Washington mandate FAQs
When does the Washington Saves mandate start?
The official Washington Saves site (wasaves.com) states the program is coming in 2027. As of the July 2026 LRS compliance review, no launch month, registration deadline, or timeline had been announced u2014 details are pending rulemaking.
Which Washington employers will be covered?
As enacted, Washington Saves will cover businesses that have operated in Washington for at least two years, have a physical presence in the state, employ workers for 10,400 or more combined hours per year (roughly five full-time equivalents), and do not offer a qualified retirement plan.
Does our existing 401(k) exempt us from Washington Saves?
Employers that offer a qualified retirement plan are expected to be exempt. Exact certification mechanics will be defined in rulemaking, so keep plan records current and watch for official guidance.
What penalties will apply for non-compliance?
Penalty amounts and enforcement details are pending rulemaking. Additional program guidance may be forthcoming u2014 the safest position is to have a qualifying plan or registration plan ready before launch.
What should Washington employers do right now?
Confirm whether you will meet the coverage thresholds, then decide early whether the state program or your own plan is the better fit. The voluntary Washington Retirement Marketplace also remains available while Washington Saves is implemented. LRS u2014 headquartered in Washington u2014 can help you compare the options.
Source and review information
- Official program source: wasaves.com (opens in a new tab)
- Last reviewed July 2026 by the LRS compliance team. High confidence
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This page is provided for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Program details change; confirm requirements with the official state program or your advisors.