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UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026 · STATUTE-VERIFIED

Oregon Retirement Mandate: OregonSaves

OregonSaves has been live since November 2017. It applies to Oregon employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Penalty: Up to $100 / employee (cap $5,000 / yr). Already passed: All tiers (100+ through 1–2 employees) (2023-07-31) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now.

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

What does Oregon actually require?

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Informational only, not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Oregon
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OregonSaves at a glance.

Who is covered

OregonSaves covers Oregon employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Any employer with one or more employees (OAR 170-080-0010: employment in 18 separate weeks or $1,000 quarterly payroll); count taken from the Oregon Quarterly Tax Report. No years-in-business requirement; new employers register by July 31 of the following year.

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 tiers (100+ through 1–2 employees) (2023-07-31) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now. Newly eligible employers: July 31 each year.

Source

ORS 178.200–178.260, 178.990(1)(a); OAR 170-080-0010/-0015/-0020 · Official program: www.oregonsaves.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 OregonSaves?

OregonSaves is Oregon's state-facilitated retirement savings program. It has been live since November 2017. Program: https://www.oregonsaves.com.

Who must comply with OregonSaves?

OregonSaves covers Oregon employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Any employer with one or more employees (OAR 170-080-0010: employment in 18 separate weeks or $1,000 quarterly payroll); count taken from the Oregon Quarterly Tax Report. No years-in-business requirement; new employers register by July 31 of the following year.

What is the OregonSaves 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 OregonSaves deadlines?

Already passed: All tiers (100+ through 1–2 employees) (2023-07-31) — unregistered employers should register or certify an exemption now. Newly eligible employers: July 31 each year.

How do Oregon employers become exempt?

Exempt with a plan under 401(a)/401(k), 403(a)/403(b), SEP (408(k)), SIMPLE (408(p)), 457(b), 413(c) or 414(f); payroll-deduction IRAs do not qualify; Certificate of Exemption required. 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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