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Eligibility and Exemptions

 

Who Must Register:

  • State law requires employers that employed at least one eligible California employee during the previous calendar year to register for CalSavers or claim a program exemption.
  • Employers that qualify for a program exemption must report their exemption to CalSavers.
 

Program Exemptions:

  • Employer already sponsors a qualified retirement plan;
  • Business is closed or was sold;
  • Employer does not have CA employee(s);
  • Owner(s) or officer(s) are the only employee(s);
  • Employer's classification is either a government entity, religious organization, or tribal organization.
How to Register or Request an Exemption Captions Transcript

Watch the Overview

Learn how to register or request an exemption for CalSavers in just a few minutes.

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Register or Request Exemption

Instructions on how to register or request an exemption

How to Register for CalSavers

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1

Enter your EIN/TIN and Access Code

Go to the registration page and enter your EIN/TIN and your CalSavers Access Code.

2

Enter business information

Enter your business's name and address, then click Next.

3

Complete exemption check

Choose your business type to determine whether your business qualifies for an exemption.

4

Add administrators and set login

Provide contact info for your Account Manager and choose a username, password, and security questions.

5

Review and submit

Review your information, then click Submit to complete your registration. A confirmation email will follow with next steps.

How to Register for CalSavers

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Toggle Detailed Instructions

Go to the registration or request exemption page where you will enter your Federal Employer Identification Number or Tax Identification Number (EIN/TIN) and your CalSavers Access Code. Request an Access Code if you do not have one.

Get Started
Registration page preview

A new page will open where you will enter your business's name and address, then click Next to determine whether your business is exempt from the mandate.

Enter business information preview

Determine whether your business is exempt from the mandate by choosing your business type. If you don't see your exemption reason listed, you can request an exemption by emailing calsavers@treasurer.ca.gov.

If your business is not exempt, you'll continue through steps 4 and 5 of the registration process.

Exemption check preview

Provide contact information for the person who will run the CalSavers program for your business (Account Manager) and anyone else who may be assisting (Administrator).

Then choose a username, password, and security questions for future logins.

Add administrator preview

Review your information to make sure everything is correct, then click Submit to complete your registration. You'll receive a confirmation email with the next steps.

Review and submit preview

What to do after registration:

Within 30 days of registering, you must complete your account setup and upload your employee roster. CalSavers will then notify your employees and begin their 30-day decision period.

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How to Request an Exemption for CalSavers

Need a more detailed walk-through?

Toggle Detailed Instructions

1

Enter your EIN/TIN and Access Code

Go to the registration page and enter your business tax ID and Access Code

Get Started
2

Enter business information

Fill out business details in the form and choose your business type in the exemption check

3

Select exemption reason

Choose the reason that applies to your business from the list of qualifying exemptions

4

Review and submit document proof

Double-check details, submit, and follow the online instructions.

How to Request an Exemption for CalSavers

Need a more detailed walk-through?

Toggle Detailed Instructions

Go to the registration or request exemption page where you will enter your Federal Employer Identification Number or Tax Identification Number (EIN/TIN) and your CalSavers Access Code. Request an Access Code if you do not have one.

Get Started
Registration and exemption page preview

A new page will open where you will enter your business's name and address, then click Next to determine whether your business is exempt from the mandate.

Enter business information preview

Choose the reason that applies to your business from the list of qualifying exemptions. If you don't see your exemption reason listed, you can request an exemption by emailing calsavers@treasurer.ca.gov.

Exemption reason selection preview

Review your information to make sure everything is correct, then click Submit to continue to instructions to submit any supporting documentation based on your exemption selection.

If required, follow the online instructions to provide proof of existing retirement plan or other supporting documents. You'll receive a confirmation email with your exemption status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newly mandated employers must register for CalSavers or claim a program exemption by December 31 of the year they receive their mandate notice.

State law requires employers that do not sponsor their own qualified retirement plan to facilitate CalSavers. An eligible employer is a business that averaged at least one California-based employee age 18 or older during the previous calendar year and is not a government entity, religious organization, or tribal organization.

Qualified retirement plans include:


  • 401(a) – Qualified Plan (including profit-sharing plans and defined benefit plans)
  • 401(k) plans (including multiple employer plans or pooled employer plans)
  • 403(a) - Qualified Annuity Plan or 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plan
  • 408(k) - Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plans
  • 408(p) - Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (SIMPLE) IRA Plan
  • Payroll deduction IRAs with automatic enrollment
If you have received a notice to register but offer a qualified retirement plan or meet one of the exempt classifications above, please report your exemption through the employer portal.

 

Yes. Under Government Code Section 100033(b), an eligible employer that fails without good cause to allow employee participation is subject to a penalty of $250 per eligible employee if the noncompliance extends 90 days or more after notice, and an additional penalty of $500 per eligible employee if the noncompliance extends 180 days or more.

No. State law provides that employers have no liability for an employee's decision to participate, for their investment choices, or for investment performance. Under Section 100034, employers are not fiduciaries of the program and are not responsible for plan administration beyond registering, remitting payroll deductions, and maintaining employee rosters.

No. Religious organizations, tribal organizations, and government entities are exempt from the state law establishing CalSavers.

Non-profit employers are subject to the same eligibility requirements as for-profit employers. Volunteers are not considered employees and do not count toward an employer's total employee count.

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