State Retirement Mandate Compliance | Penalty Calculator – RetirementMandate.com
UPDATED FOR 2026 · VA 5+ · NJ 10+ · CA 1+

Your state's retirement mandate, handled.

See what your state requires, what ignoring it really costs, and how your own plan can come in below the penalty — with federal tax credits on top.

Verified to state statutes 17 states covered No obligation
Compliant & covered17 states · 2026
Your exposure · VA · 21 staff
$4,200/yr≈ $0*
Do nothing → penalty · your plan → covered*
17
States tracked
60s
To check your exposure
$0
Possible setup with credits*
100%
Statute-verified data
// 60-second check

What does your state actually require?

Pick your state and headcount for your real exposure — data verified against each state's own statute.

Informational only — not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Virginia
$4,200
RetirePath VA · applies at 5+ employees

Get your full breakdown + a private-plan savings estimate:

// who we help

Built for the businesses these mandates hit hardest.

Hourly teams, tight margins, no HR department. We handle the compliance so you can run the place.

// state plan vs your own

You can comply two ways. Only one builds anything.

The state auto-IRA

Compliance, nothing else
  • No employer match allowed
  • Low Roth-IRA contribution limits
  • One-size-fits-all investments
  • No tax credits for your business
RECOMMENDED

Your own 401(k)

Compliant — and working for you
  • Match if and when you want
  • Far higher contribution limits
  • SECURE 2.0 credits can offset setup
  • A real recruiting & retention perk
// the part nobody tells you

Federal credits can cover most of your startup cost.

Under SECURE 2.0, small employers starting a plan can claim credits toward setup and contributions. The amount depends on your size and phases out over the first years — we model your real number, not a headline.

See what you'd qualify for
Up to $5,000/yr
Startup credit toward administration costs, up to three years.
Up to $1,000/emp
Toward employer contributions for smaller employers, phasing down as you grow.
Lownet cost
Credits can offset most of the year-one cost for many eligible businesses — we model your real net.
// how it works

Compliant in three steps — most of them ours.

STEP 01

Check your exposure

Two clicks show what your state requires and what non-compliance costs.

STEP 02

Free 15-minute audit

We model the private-plan option with credits and give you the numbers. No obligation.

STEP 03

We set it up

State plan or your own — we handle the paperwork and get you compliant before the deadline.

// why employers trust us

The only compliance data here you can actually rely on.

Statute-verified data — the thing most sites here get wrong.

Every threshold and penalty is checked against the state's own law, and re-checked the moment it changes. When Virginia dropped from 25 to 5, we caught it.

17/17

Licensed advisors

A real credentialed specialist — not a call-center script.

No cost to look

Free audit, no obligation. If the state plan fits, we'll say so.

$0

We never sell your data

Your details are used to help you comply — full stop.

Beat your deadline

We handle the paperwork and get you set up in time.

// a real person, not a call center

You'll work with an actual licensed advisor.

Every audit is done by a credentialed benefits specialist who knows these state programs cold — because we track every one against the statute. No scripts, no pressure.

Licensed benefits advisor17 programs trackedStatute-verified
// free download

The 2026 State Mandate Cheat-Sheet

Every state's threshold, deadline, and penalty on one page — verified to the statute. Know exactly where you stand before you talk to anyone.

Instant PDF · no spam · unsubscribe anytime
2026 Edition

State Retirement Mandate Cheat-Sheet

Thresholds · Deadlines · Penalties · 17 states

Find out where you stand — before the state does.

Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.

100% freeNo obligation15 minutes

Get your free audit

Takes 30 seconds. We'll reach out to schedule.
Submits to GHL / LeadConnector · or call (732) 444-8686