Home › States › Colorado
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026 · STATUTE-VERIFIED

Colorado Retirement Mandate: SecureSavings

Colorado SecureSavings has been live since January 2023. It applies to Colorado employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Penalty: Up to $100 / employee (cap $5,000 / yr). Already passed: All employers (2023 waves; final backstop) (2024-12-31) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now.

Colorado SecureSavingsACTIVE
State program
5+ employees
Employee threshold
Up to $100 / employee (cap $5,000 / yr)
Non-compliance penalty
// 60-second check

What does Colorado actually require?

Set your headcount for your real exposure — data verified against the statute.

Informational only, not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Colorado
—

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

// verified to the statute

Colorado SecureSavings at a glance.

Who is covered

Colorado SecureSavings covers Colorado employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Five or more employees at any time during the previous calendar year (employees 18+, employed at least 180 days). Applies to employers in business for 2+ years.

Penalty and enforcement

Up to $100 per eligible employee per year, capped at $5,000 per year. The penalty is in force; no public record of assessments yet.

Deadlines

Already passed: All employers (2023 waves; final backstop) (2024-12-31) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now. Newly eligible employers: annual notification.

Source

C.R.S. 24-54.3-102(3), 24-54.3-107(1)(i); 8 CCR 1508-3 · Official program: coloradosecuresavings.com · Verified 2026-09-17.

// 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 offset setup
  • A real recruiting & retention perk
// frequently asked

Asked by employers here.

What is Colorado SecureSavings?

Colorado SecureSavings is Colorado's state-facilitated retirement savings program. It has been live since January 2023. Program: https://coloradosecuresavings.com.

Who must comply with Colorado SecureSavings?

Colorado SecureSavings covers Colorado employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Five or more employees at any time during the previous calendar year (employees 18+, employed at least 180 days). Applies to employers in business for 2+ years.

What is the Colorado SecureSavings penalty?

Up to $100 per eligible employee per year, capped at $5,000 per year. The penalty is in force; no public record of assessments yet.

When are the Colorado SecureSavings deadlines?

Already passed: All employers (2023 waves; final backstop) (2024-12-31) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now. Newly eligible employers: annual notification.

How do Colorado employers become exempt?

Exempt with a plan under 401(a)/401(k), 403(a)/403(b), SEP (408(k)), SIMPLE (408(p)), 457(b) or a MEP; employers with fewer than 5 employees or under 2 years in business must still certify. A private 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA satisfies the mandate and may qualify for SECURE 2.0 startup credits.

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.

Free 15-minute audit

No obligation · 848-400-4899
Book my free audit