Eligibility and Registration
Illinois state law requires Illinois employers to participate in Illinois Secure Choice if they do not sponsor a qualified retirement plan, have 5 or more employees and have been in business for more than two years. *
Employers who have fewer than 5 employees, have been in business for less than two years, or who already offer an employer-sponsored retirement plan are exempt from facilitating the program.
If your business is not exempt, it must complete company registration with the Illinois Secure Choice program to meet your state mandate.
When should this step be completed?
You must complete registration by your state mandated deadline.
Information you will need to complete this step:
To start registration or request an exemption:
- Your company’s Federal Employer Identification Number or Tax Identification Number (EIN/TIN).
- Your Illinois Secure Choice Access Code, which is sent to you by the Program. (Request an Access Code if you do not have one.)
If you are registering:
- Contact information for the person who will facilitate the Illinois Secure Choice program for your company. (This person will be is identified as the Account Manager for the account.)
- Optional: The contact information for anyone else at your company who will assist you with managing your account. (These individuals are referred to “administrators”.)
If you are requesting an exemption:
- You may need to send a communication and formal documentation supporting your exemption request to the Illinois Secure Choice Program. Information you may need to provide will be different based on your exemption reason.
What comes next?
After your complete this step, you are required to add your roster of employees within 30 days of registration. Illinois Secure Choice will then notify your employees about the program, initiating a 30-day opt-out window. You will begin to send employee contributions for those that do not opt out during the period. Employees who do not customize their account or opt out during this period will be automatically enrolled in Illinois Secure Choice.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an employer-sponsored retirement plan?
An employer-sponsored retirement plan includes a plan qualified under Internal Revenue Code sections:
- 401(a) or 401(k) plan) - Qualified plan (including profit sharing plans and defined benefits plans)
- 403(a) - Qualified annuity plan
- 403(b) - Tax-sheltered annuity
- 408(k) - Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan
- 408(p) - SIMPLE IRA plan
- 457(b) - Governmental tax-deferred compensation plan
- or Taft-Hartley plan
It does not include payroll deduction IRAs.