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UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026 · STATUTE-VERIFIED

Maryland Retirement Mandate: MarylandSaves

MarylandSaves has been live since September 2022. It applies to Maryland employers with 1+ employees (any payroll employer; no minimum headcount) that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Penalty: No monetary penalty — registration required. Upcoming: 2027 fee-waiver claim by 2026-12-31.

MarylandSavesACTIVE
State program
1+ employees (any payroll employer; no minimum headcount)
Employee threshold
No monetary penalty — registration required
Non-compliance penalty
// 60-second check

What does Maryland actually require?

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

Informational only, not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Maryland
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Get your full breakdown + a private-plan savings estimate:

// verified to the statute

MarylandSaves at a glance.

Who is covered

MarylandSaves covers Maryland employers with 1+ employees (any payroll employer; no minimum headcount) that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: No numeric threshold: any Maryland employer that pays employees through a payroll system or service. Must have been in business throughout the current and preceding calendar year.

Penalty and enforcement

Participating employers get the $300 annual state report filing fee WAIVED. No monetary non-compliance penalty. Employers must still register or certify an exemption.

Deadlines

Upcoming: 2027 fee-waiver claim by 2026-12-31. Newly eligible employers: no statutory date.

Source

Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. §§12-101, 12-402; Corps. & Ass'ns §1-203(b)(13) · Official program: www.marylandsaves.org · 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 MarylandSaves?

MarylandSaves is Maryland's state-facilitated retirement savings program. It has been live since September 2022. Program: https://www.marylandsaves.org.

Who must comply with MarylandSaves?

MarylandSaves covers Maryland employers with 1+ employees (any payroll employer; no minimum headcount) that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: No numeric threshold: any Maryland employer that pays employees through a payroll system or service. Must have been in business throughout the current and preceding calendar year.

What is the MarylandSaves penalty?

Participating employers get the $300 annual state report filing fee WAIVED. No monetary non-compliance penalty. Employers must still register or certify an exemption.

When are the MarylandSaves deadlines?

Upcoming: 2027 fee-waiver claim by 2026-12-31. Newly eligible employers: no statutory date.

How do Maryland employers become exempt?

Exempt if the employer offers, or offered in the preceding two years, an IRA, defined-benefit plan, 401(k), SEP or SIMPLE; to claim the fee waiver a non-participant must file the form every year. 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.

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