Hotels, motels, restaurants and seasonal businesses in White Salmon must comply with Washington Saves if they meet the 10,400+ employee-hours/yr (≈5 full-time) threshold — or offer a qualifying plan. The penalty is enacted for willful violations only ($100 / $250 / $500 per violation) and cannot be assessed before 2030-01-01..
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:
Washington Saves covers Washington employers with 10,400+ employee-hours/yr (≈5 full-time) that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Employs, and at any point during the immediately preceding calendar year employed, employees working a combined 10,400+ hours (roughly five full-time employees). Applies to employers in business for 2+ years.
The penalty is enacted for willful violations only ($100 / $250 / $500 per violation) and cannot be assessed before 2030-01-01.
Upcoming: Program launch by 2027-07-01; Employers with 20,800+ employee-hours (proposed WAC) by 2028-12-01 (proposed); All other covered employers (proposed WAC) by 2029-12-01 (proposed).
RCW 19.05.010(6), 19.05.040, 19.05.070; proposed WAC 520-01 · Official program: www.wasaves.com · Verified 2026-09-17.
Yes, if the business meets the threshold. Washington Saves applies to Washington employers with 10,400+ employee-hours/yr (≈5 full-time) that do not offer a qualifying plan. Hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants in White Salmon follow the same rules as any other employer — seasonal operation does not exempt you.
Not automatically. Coverage depends on how Washington counts employees: Employs, and at any point during the immediately preceding calendar year employed, employees working a combined 10,400+ hours (roughly five full-time employees). 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 qualified plan under 401(a)/401(k), 403(a)/403(b), SEP (408(k)), SIMPLE (408(p)) (may require up to one year of continuous employment). 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: Program launch by 2027-07-01; Employers with 20,800+ employee-hours (proposed WAC) by 2028-12-01 (proposed); All other covered employers (proposed WAC) by 2029-12-01 (proposed). Penalty: The penalty is enacted for willful violations only ($100 / $250 / $500 per violation) and cannot be assessed before 2030-01-01. 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.