Enhanced Reporting

Reporting Member Contributions

Enhanced Reporting

Most members are required to contribute a percentage of their earnings toward their retirement. When you report contributions (both mandatory and voluntary), you must apply the member’s contribution rate to their gross earnings. It’s important to retain a record of the member’s contribution rate with your payroll records.

 

Mandatory Contributions

Whether a member contributes, and how much, depends on their tier. However, exceptions apply to some members of the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) or the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) depending on their retirement plan. For more information, visit the Member Contribution Rates page.

Tier 5 and 6 Members

Tier 3 and 4 Members

  • Do not withhold member contributions for ERS Tier 3 and 4 members. All Tier 3 and 4 ERS members have reached 10 years of membership or earned 10 years of service credits and are no longer required to contribute.
  • Do not withhold member contributions for PFRS Tier 3 covered under Article 14 once they have reached 25 years of membership or earned 25 years of service credit.

Tier 1 and 2 Members

  • Do not withhold member contributions for Tier 1 and 2 members who are not required to contribute.

 

Voluntary Contributions

Members who are not required to contribute can choose to make voluntary contributions (any whole percentage of their earnings from 1 to 10 percent) to NYSLRS. If a member chooses to start, change or stop voluntary contributions, they must complete the applicable form and file it with you (their employer). Your payroll office must then complete the employer portion of the form and submit it to NYSLRS.

When a member: 

  • Starts voluntary contributions, we will notify your payroll office when to begin taking deductions.
  • Changes the percentage of their voluntary contributions, your payroll office must change the percentage deducted beginning with the payroll period following receipt of the election form.
  • Stops voluntary contributions, your payroll office must stop taking deductions beginning with the payroll period following receipt of the cancellation form.

 

Rev. 8/26