Hotels, motels, restaurants and seasonal businesses in Alton must comply with My Illinois Savings (formerly Illinois Secure Choice) if they meet the 5+ employees (every quarter of the prior year) threshold — or offer a qualifying plan. Escalating: $250 per employee (first non-compliant year); $500 per employee (each subsequent year).
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My Illinois Savings (formerly Illinois Secure Choice) covers Illinois employers with 5+ employees (every quarter of the prior year) that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: At least 5 Illinois employees in every quarter of the previous calendar year; penalties use the annual average of quarterly headcount. Applies to employers in business for 2+ years.
Escalating: $250 per employee (first non-compliant year); $500 per employee (each subsequent year). Penalties are being assessed now.
Upcoming: Newly eligible employers by 2026-11-01. Already passed: 16–24 employees (2022-11-01); 5–15 employees (2023-11-01) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now.
820 ILCS 80/5, 80/60, 80/85 (as amended by P.A. 104-100, eff. 2025-08-01) · Official program: myilsavings.com · Verified 2026-09-17.
Yes, if the business meets the threshold. My Illinois Savings (formerly Illinois Secure Choice) applies to Illinois employers with 5+ employees (every quarter of the prior year) that do not offer a qualifying plan. Hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants in Alton follow the same rules as any other employer — seasonal operation does not exempt you.
Not automatically. Coverage depends on how Illinois counts employees: At least 5 Illinois employees in every quarter of the previous calendar year; penalties use the annual average of quarterly headcount. Applies to employers in business for 2+ years. Seasonal employers can also satisfy the mandate with a SIMPLE IRA or 401(k), which may exclude employees who work fewer than 1,000 hours a year.
Yes. Exempt with a plan under 401(a)/401(k), 403(a)/403(b), SEP (408(k)), SIMPLE (408(p)) or 457(b); certification required — an approved exemption removes any proposed assessment. A private plan also gives you a real recruiting benefit for seasonal and year-round staff.
Yes. SECURE 2.0 Act tax credits are available to small businesses with fewer than 100 employees that start a new qualifying retirement plan (the full startup credit applies at 50 or fewer employees; it phases down from 51–100). Credits of up to $5,000/year for 3 years, plus up to $1,000 per employee in employer-contribution credits (phasing down over five years), are available regardless of whether your business is seasonal.
Upcoming: Newly eligible employers by 2026-11-01. Already passed: 16–24 employees (2022-11-01); 5–15 employees (2023-11-01) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now. Penalty: Escalating: $250 per employee (first non-compliant year); $500 per employee (each subsequent year). Penalties are being assessed now. Contact Kandelaki Solutions for a free compliance audit.
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