Minnesota’s Secure Choice Retirement Program requires employers doing business in Minnesota to either enroll workers in the state’s payroll‑deduction IRA program or, if the employer already offers a qualifying retirement plan (e.g., a 401(k), 403(b), SEP, or SIMPLE), to certify its exemption from that requirement by the end of the employer’s assigned registration window. All employers with 100+ covered employees must set up a Minnesota Secure Choice Employer Account by June 30, 2026, and either enroll their workers in the state’s payroll‑deduction IRA program or certify their exemption by the required date. Noncompliant employers face graduated fines of up to $500 per employee after an initial warning period.
Who Is a “Covered Employer”?
The Secure Choice Retirement Program applies to any private-sector employer that has been doing business in Minnesota for at least 12 months and employs five or more covered employees receiving Minnesota taxable wages. Temporary or seasonal employees expected to work 180 days or less are excluded from the count.