Maine Retirement Mandate: MERIT

Maine's MERIT (Maine Retirement Investment Trust) program requires employers with 5+ employees to facilitate retirement savings. Monthly penalties make non-compliance expensive fast.

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MERITENFORCING

State program

5+ employees

Employee threshold

Up to $100 / employee / yr (escalating)

Non-compliance penalty

// 60-second check

What does Maine actually require?

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

Your state

Number of employees

Informational only — not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Maine

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

// 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 Maine's MERIT program?

MERIT (Maine Retirement Investment Trust) is Maine's state-mandated retirement savings program for employers with 5+ employees.

What is the MERIT penalty in Maine?

Up to $20 per employee per month for non-compliance — that's $240/employee/year, higher than many other states.

How do Maine businesses avoid MERIT?

Offer a qualifying retirement plan. SECURE 2.0 Act credits can offset up to $5,000/year in startup costs.

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 · (732) 444-8686

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