Employer requirements
Register with MyCTSavings and facilitate payroll deductions, or certify an exemption based on a qualified retirement plan.
Active mandate
Connecticut Retirement Plan Mandate: Requirements for Employers
MyCTSavings
MyCTSavings covers Connecticut employers in business 2+ full calendar years with 5+ employees (at least 5 earning $5,000+ in taxable wages). As of July 1, 2026 it also covers personal care attendants employed through state-funded programs. All initial registration deadlines have passed.
The Program
How MyCTSavings works
MyCTSavings is Connecticut's automatic-enrollment Roth IRA program and the anchor of the Multistate Alliance for Retirement Security (with Rhode Island and Hawaii). All initial registration deadlines have passed. Effective July 1, 2025, the state moved to a three-strike enforcement model with escalating annual penalties by employer size.
Coverage applies to employers in business two or more full calendar years with five or more Connecticut employees as of October 1 of the prior year, at least five of whom earned $5,000 or more in taxable wages. As of July 1, 2026, the program also reaches personal care attendants employed through state-funded programs. Because all initial registration deadlines have passed and the three-strike penalty model is live, a covered employer that has not registered should either enroll or certify an exemption now.
Sponsoring a qualified retirement plan — a 401(k), Safe Harbor, 403(b), SEP, or SIMPLE — satisfies the MyCTSavings requirement and lets you certify an exemption. Unlike the state's 3% Roth IRA, an employer-sponsored plan can add matching contributions, higher limits, and design flexibility that support recruiting and retention.
At A Glance
The Connecticut mandate at a glance
Registration deadlines
All initial registration deadlines have passed.
Covered employers
Employers in business 2+ full calendar years with 5+ Connecticut employees (as of October 1 of the prior year), at least 5 of whom earned $5,000+ in taxable wages. As of July 1, 2026 the program also covers personal care attendants employed through state-funded programs.
Penalties / enforcement
Effective July 1, 2025: three-strike enforcement with escalating annual penalties by employer size, ranging from $500 to $1,500.
The Requirements
Who must comply in Connecticut — and what is required
Employee eligibility
Eligible employees are enrolled automatically unless they opt out; since July 1, 2026 coverage extends to personal care attendants employed through state-funded programs.
Exemptions
Employers offering a qualified retirement plan; employers under the size or tenure thresholds.
Penalties and enforcement
Effective July 1, 2025: three-strike enforcement with escalating annual penalties by employer size, ranging from $500 to $1,500.
Your Options
Qualifying retirement plan alternatives in Connecticut
Employers sponsoring a qualified retirement plan satisfy the MyCTSavings requirement.
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.
Common Questions
Connecticut mandate FAQs
Which employers must register for MyCTSavings?
Connecticut employers in business two or more full calendar years with five or more employees (as of October 1 of the prior year), at least five of whom earned $5,000 or more in taxable wages, and no qualified plan.
What is the deadline for MyCTSavings?
All initial registration deadlines have passed. Covered employers that have not registered should do so now u2014 enforcement is active.
What are the penalties for MyCTSavings non-compliance?
Effective July 1, 2025, Connecticut uses a three-strike enforcement model with escalating annual penalties by employer size, ranging from $500 to $1,500.
Does MyCTSavings cover personal care attendants?
Yes. As of July 1, 2026, coverage extends to personal care attendants employed through state-funded programs.
Does a 401(k) exempt us from MyCTSavings?
Yes. Employers that sponsor a qualified retirement plan can certify an exemption instead of registering.
What is MyCTSavings?
Connecticut's automatic-enrollment Roth IRA program (3% default) and the anchor of the Multistate Alliance for Retirement Security, shared with Rhode Island and Hawaii.
Talk It Through
Not sure how the Connecticut mandate applies to you?
Leading Retirement Solutions designs and administers plans that satisfy state mandates. Talk through your requirements with a consultant before your deadline.
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.