State Mandate Tracker · Updated April 2026

Does your state require you to offer retirement benefits?

Nineteen states now run retirement mandates — and more are on the way. Find your state below to see the rules, the deadlines, and how a private 401(k) compares. We’ve administered small-business plans for over 20 years.

States with active mandates

Launching through 2027

~56M

Workers covered nationwide

Cost to compare with EF

Hover any state to see its mandate details

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Active mandate

Upcoming

Voluntary

Proposed

No program

Your state

Side-by-side

State IRA vs. a private 401(k)

A state-facilitated IRA satisfies compliance. A 401(k) does that — and more. Here’s where the two diverge for a typical small employer.

Feature

State-facilitated IRA

EF 401(k)

Contribution limit (2026)

$7,000 employee · no employer contribution

$23,500 employee · up to $70,000 total with match

Employer match

Not allowed

Fully customizable — dollar, percent, tiered

Employer tax deduction

None — employees fund with after-tax dollars

Contributions + fees are tax-deductible

Investment choice

Narrow, state-selected menu

Open architecture — 377+ Vanguard & index funds

Admin burden

Payroll integration + quarterly reporting

EF handles compliance, 5500s, testing

Vesting schedule

Not applicable

Custom schedules — reward longer tenure

Loans & hardship withdrawals

Not offered

Both supported

Cost to employer

No direct cost · compliance time

Flat $1,500/yr setup · $1,500+ admin

Get a free quote

See how a 401(k) compares to your state's program.

Tell us about your business. We’ll send you a side-by-side comparison showing what your state program costs you — and what a 401(k) would cost and return instead. No sales call required.

Free comparison
No obligation
15-minute response

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