Quick Answer: The RetireReady NJ expansion lowers the employer threshold from 25 employees to 10, bringing more small New Jersey businesses into the state retirement savings program. Employers with 10 to 24 employees should review their retirement benefits and HR processes, confirm whether they meet the employee-count, two-year business, and retirement-plan requirements, and prepare their payroll and employee records. New Jersey has not yet published a final registration schedule for this newly covered group, so employers should prepare now without assuming the older deadlines for businesses with 25 or more employees apply to them.
What Changed for Employers With 10 to 24 Employees?
New Jersey amended the Secure Choice Savings Program Act in 2026 and lowered the RetireReady NJ employer threshold from 25 employees to 10 employees. Once the expansion is implemented, employers with 10 or more employees that have been in business in New Jersey for at least two years and do not offer a qualifying retirement plan may be required to facilitate payroll deductions through RetireReady NJ.
Employers should start by reviewing these three requirements:
| Requirement | What Employers Should Check |
|---|---|
| Employee count | Whether the business has 10 or more employees |
| Time in business | Whether the business has operated in New Jersey for at least two years |
| Retirement plan | Whether the employer already offers a qualifying retirement plan |
Having 10 to 24 employees does not mean a business should use one of the old RetireReady NJ registration dates. The newly covered group is being introduced separately as New Jersey expands the program.
Do Employers With 10 to 24 Employees Have to Register Yet?
Not necessarily. The law has expanded, but the rollout for employers with 10 to 24 employees is still underway.
The current RetireReady NJ employer page tells businesses in this group to prepare for upcoming changes and says newly covered employers will be introduced to the program over time, with a schedule to be announced. New Jersey also announced in July 2026 that introduction of the expansion was expected to begin in early September 2026. That does not mean September is a registration deadline for every newly covered employer.
The older deadlines for employers with 25 or more workers were part of the original rollout. Businesses with 10 to 24 employees should follow the registration notice and instructions issued for their group rather than applying those earlier dates to themselves.
What Should Newly Covered Employers Do Now?
Employers do not need to wait for a registration notice to start preparing. The goal is to understand whether the program is likely to apply and make sure the business is ready when its rollout period begins.
- Confirm your employee count. Determine whether the company falls within the expanded RetireReady NJ threshold.
- Confirm how long the business has operated in New Jersey. The program generally requires at least two years in business.
- Review your retirement benefits. Determine whether the company already offers a qualifying retirement plan.
- Talk with your payroll provider. Ask whether it can support RetireReady NJ payroll deductions and employee updates.
- Review employee records. Make sure payroll and employee information is accurate and current.
- Watch for official instructions. RetireReady NJ says employers are notified when it is time for their business to register.
For employers with 10 to 24 employees, the practical approach is prepare now and register when New Jersey instructs your business to do so.
What If the Business Already Offers a Retirement Plan?
An employer that already offers a qualifying retirement plan may be exempt from facilitating RetireReady NJ. The state recognizes qualifying retirement arrangements under the program, and employers that already provide an eligible plan can use the RetireReady NJ process to certify their exemption.
Employers should not simply ignore a RetireReady NJ notice because they already offer a plan. Confirm that the existing arrangement qualifies and complete the applicable exemption process.
If the company offers a retirement plan only to certain employee groups or has unusual eligibility rules, that situation deserves a separate review rather than assuming the exemption automatically applies.
What Should Employers Expect When Registration Begins?
Based on RetireReady NJ’s current employer process, businesses are notified when it is time to register and generally use their Federal Employer Identification Number and RetireReady NJ Access Code to get started. The employer then provides required business and employee information.
After employees are added, they currently receive a 30-day period to opt out or customize their account. When that period ends, employers begin payroll deductions for employees who remain enrolled and submit contribution information and funding through the program. Employers also maintain employee records, including adding new workers and updating former employees.
The employer’s role is primarily administrative. Businesses do not choose investments or provide investment advice to participating employees. Newly covered employers should follow the instructions issued during their rollout period in case administrative details change.
Frequently Asked Questions About the RetireReady NJ Expansion
Not every newly covered employer has an immediate registration deadline. New Jersey says employers with 10 to 24 employees are being introduced to RetireReady NJ over time and that the rollout schedule will be announced as implementation continues. Employers should prepare now and follow the official instructions issued for their business.
No. The September 15, 2024 deadline for employers with 40 or more employees and the November 15, 2024 deadline for employers with 25 to 39 employees were part of the original rollout. Businesses newly covered by the 2026 expansion should follow the separate implementation instructions for their group.
Not automatically. The current expansion guidance also considers whether the business has operated in New Jersey for at least two years and whether it offers a qualifying retirement plan. Employers should review all of the applicable requirements before determining their status.
First determine whether the employer’s rollout period has begun. RetireReady NJ says employers are notified when it is time to register and provides an Access Code as part of that process, so a newly covered business should not assume a missing code means it is already late.
A qualifying retirement plan may exempt the employer from facilitating RetireReady NJ. Employers that receive a program notice should confirm that their plan qualifies and complete the state’s exemption process instead of ignoring the notice.
How Should New Jersey Employers Prepare for the Expansion?
For businesses with 10 to 24 employees, the priority is preparation rather than guessing at a registration date. Employers should confirm whether the expanded requirements are likely to apply, review their retirement benefits, make sure payroll and employee records are ready, and monitor RetireReady NJ for official rollout instructions.
Employers reviewing these requirements as part of their broader employee benefits strategy should also make sure retirement-plan administration, payroll, and HR procedures work together consistently.
JS Benefits Group can help employers review how retirement benefits fit into their broader employee benefits and HR planning as the RetireReady NJ expansion moves forward.
