Hotels, motels, restaurants and seasonal businesses in Watch Hill must comply with RISavers if they meet the 5+ employees threshold — or offer a qualifying plan. Up to $250 per eligible employee per year.
Set your headcount for your real exposure — data verified against the statute.
Informational only, not legal or tax advice.
Get your full breakdown + a private-plan savings estimate:
RISavers covers Rhode Island employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Average number of eligible employees (18+, employed 120+ days) in the previous calendar year, as reported on Form TX-17. No years-in-business requirement.
Up to $250 per eligible employee per year. The program has launched; enforcement has not begun.
Upcoming: 100+ employees by 2026-10-15; 50–99 employees by 2027-10-15; 5–49 employees by 2028-10-15.
R.I. Gen. Laws §§35-23-2, 35-23-9, 35-23-15; 120-RICR-00-00-6 · Official program: risavers.gov · Verified 2026-09-17.
Yes, if the business meets the threshold. RISavers applies to Rhode Island employers with 5+ employees that do not offer a qualifying plan. Hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants in Watch Hill follow the same rules as any other employer — seasonal operation does not exempt you.
Not automatically. Coverage depends on how Rhode Island counts employees: Average number of eligible employees (18+, employed 120+ days) in the previous calendar year, as reported on Form TX-17. No years-in-business requirement. 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 DB plan, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), SEP, SIMPLE or auto-enrollment payroll IRA; certify with the Access Code. 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: 100+ employees by 2026-10-15; 50–99 employees by 2027-10-15; 5–49 employees by 2028-10-15. Penalty: Up to $250 per eligible employee per year. The program has launched; enforcement has not begun. Contact Kandelaki Solutions for a free compliance audit.
Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.