Employer requirements
Employers in the 25+ tiers should already be registered or exempt. Newly covered 10–24 employers should watch for the official implementation schedule before any deadline applies.
Active — deadlines phasing in
New Jersey Retirement Plan Mandate: Requirements for Employers
RetireReady NJ (Secure Choice)
RetireReady NJ covers employers with 10 or more employees (threshold lowered from 25 in January 2026), in business 2+ years, with no qualified plan. The 25+ tiers passed in 2024; no registration deadline has been published yet for the newly covered 10–24 employee tier.
The Program
How the RetireReady NJ (Secure Choice) program works
RetireReady NJ is New Jersey's Secure Choice auto-IRA program. In January 2026 the state lowered the employer threshold from 25 employees to 10 — A5358, now P.L. 2025, c. 379, signed January 20, 2026 — which pulled a large group of smaller New Jersey employers into the program for the first time. Covered employers are those with ten or more employees, in business two or more years, with no qualified retirement plan.
The original tiers have closed: employers with 40 or more employees were due September 15, 2024, and the 25–39 tier was due November 15, 2024. For the newly covered 10–24 employee tier, no registration deadline has been officially published. Per the LRS compliance review of July 9, 2026, the implementation schedule for that tier is forthcoming and should not be treated as a fixed date until RetireReady NJ publishes it. Note also that the state's own program page still displays the old 25+ threshold in places — the statute controls.
New Jersey's penalties escalate over time rather than starting high: a written warning in year one, $100 per employee in year two, $250 per employee in years three and four, and $500 per employee in year five and beyond. The program reports more than 25,000 savers and over $18 million saved.
At A Glance
The New Jersey mandate at a glance
Registration deadlines
25+ employee tiers passed in 2024 (40+: September 15; 25–39: November 15). No specific registration deadline has been officially published yet for the newly covered 10–24 employee tier — the implementation schedule is forthcoming. Additional program guidance may be forthcoming.
Covered employers
Employers with 10 or more employees (threshold lowered from 25 by P.L. 2025, c. 379, signed January 20, 2026), in business 2+ years, with no qualified plan.
Penalties / enforcement
Written warning in year one; $100 per employee in year two; $250 per employee in years three–four; $500 per employee in year five and beyond.
The Requirements
Who must comply in New Jersey — and what is required
Employee eligibility
Eligible employees are enrolled automatically unless they opt out; a traditional IRA option is available alongside the default Roth.
Exemptions
Employers offering a qualified plan; employers with fewer than 10 employees; businesses under 2 years old.
Penalties and enforcement
Written warning in year one; $100 per employee in year two; $250 per employee in years three–four; $500 per employee in year five and beyond.
Your Options
Qualifying retirement plan alternatives in New Jersey
Employers sponsoring a qualified retirement plan satisfy the RetireReady NJ 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
New Jersey mandate FAQs
Which New Jersey employers must offer a retirement plan?
Employers with ten or more employees, in business two or more years, with no qualified retirement plan. The threshold dropped from 25 to 10 under P.L. 2025, c. 379, signed January 20, 2026.
What is the RetireReady NJ deadline for smaller employers?
No registration deadline has been officially published for the newly covered 10u201324 employee tier. Per the LRS compliance review, the implementation schedule is forthcoming and should not be treated as a fixed date until RetireReady NJ publishes it.
Why does the state website still say 25 employees?
The state's program page still displays the old 25+ threshold in places. The threshold was lowered to 10 by statute (P.L. 2025, c. 379); the statute controls.
What are the penalties in New Jersey?
They escalate: a written warning in year one, $100 per employee in year two, $250 per employee in years three and four, and $500 per employee in year five and beyond.
Does a 401(k) exempt us from RetireReady NJ?
Yes. Employers offering a qualified retirement plan are exempt, as are employers with fewer than ten employees and businesses under two years old.
How large is the RetireReady NJ program?
The program reports more than 25,000 savers and over $18 million saved. It is a Roth IRA with a 3% default contribution and a traditional option available.
Talk It Through
Not sure how the New Jersey 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.