Last Updated: April 12, 2024

The Golden State is making its residents’ golden years a bit more comfortable.

California was the first state to pass legislation to establish a state-run retirement savings program for private-sector workers. The result of this legislation is the CalSavers retirement savings program, designed to improve the financial health of California’s workers.

In this article, we’ll answer some questions you may have about the CalSavers program and explain how it affects California businesses.

How Does CalSavers Work?

CalSavers is a government-sponsored savings program created to help employees working in California build savings for retirement. California business owners who meet certain criteria are required by law to offer a qualified, employer-sponsored retirement plan or enroll their employees in the program.

California employees can make contributions to the program through automatic deductions from their paycheck into a Roth individual savings account (Roth IRA) unless they choose to opt out. The money in the account grows tax-free, and employees won't have to pay income tax on any money they withdraw from their account during retirement.

CalSavers is overseen by the CalSavers Retirement Savings Board and administered by private-sector partners. The program launched in 2019.

Which Businesses Are Affected?

According to the CalSavers website, employers who meet the following criteria are required to register for the program or certify an exemption:

• Have 1 or more employees
• At least one employee is 18 years or older
• Does not offer a qualified, employer-sponsored retirement plan

Registration Deadline

Program deadlines for businesses are based on company size, and some have already passed. The breakdown is as follows:

• Companies with over 100 employees | September 30, 2020 (deadline passed)
• Companies with over 50 employees | June 30, 2021 (deadline passed)
• Companies with over 5 employees | June 30, 2022 (deadline passed)
• Companies with over 1 employee(s) | December 31, 2025

Eligible employers will be notified when it's time to register or certify their exemption.

Penalties

The penalties for noncompliance are $250 per eligible employee after 90 days and an additional fee of $500 per eligible employee after 180 days.

Who Is Eligible to Save With the CalSavers Program?

Any resident of California who is 18 years or older and is employed is eligible to participate in CalSavers. Self-employed individuals and business owners are also eligible and can use the self-enrollment process to open accounts.

The program is voluntary for employees, and they can change their contribution amount or opt-out at any time.

Conclusion

The CalSavers Retirement Savings Program represents a notable development in retirement planning for California workers. Automatic enrollment and contributions made directly through payroll deductions simplify the process of setting aside funds for retirement.

The program requires businesses with one or more employees to either offer a plan or certify an exemption, so it’s important for California employers to familiarize themselves with the program details and requirements.

Looking for information on the requirements for other states? Check out our resource page here.