Employers
Help your employees save and help your business grow
All eligible employers must register or certify their exemption by the deadline
Delaware EARNS is Delaware’s state-administered retirement savings program. This program will give businesses like yours an easy way to help employees save for the future, and it benefits you, too.
Registration for the program is open to all businesses. To register, you will need your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Access Code.
Already offer a retirement plan?
EARNS applies only to employers that don’t offer a qualified retirement savings plan for their staff. If you already offer one, use your unique Access Code and EIN to certify your exemption here.
Program benefits
This program gives businesses like yours an easy way to help employees save for the future, and it benefits you, too.
EARNS can work for you
Retirement savings programs can help attract and retain employees and increase productivity.¹
Free to facilitate
With no costs, EARNS helps employers of any size stay competitive by offering access to a great benefit for employees.
Easy to set up
It’s easy to set up — no complex administration and minimal ongoing responsibilities.
Low time investment
It lets you focus on your business and offers easy integration with some payroll providers.
No fiduciary responsibility
You are not responsible for the investment decisions or outcomes of any employee that participates in the program.
Not responsible for matching contributions
You are not responsible for matching contributions. It is not permitted by the program.
Attract and retain employees
It’s a valuable benefit to attract and retain employees by giving them a simple and secure way to save through automatic payroll contributions into a Roth IRA.
How EARNS is different from plans like a 401(k)
Many plans involve complex administration requirements, fiduciary liability, and high costs, all of which can keep employers like you from offering employees retirement savings plans. But EARNS is different. It offers some of the best features of popular employer plans and IRAs, but without the burdensome requirements, allowing employers to focus on facilitating the program — all with no cost to you.
This program is not meant to replace or compete with 401(k)s or other qualified retirement plans. Employers that offer a qualified retirement plan are exempt from the program.
Reference
1. Andrew Glazer, “Why Offering Retirement Benefits Helps Attract And Retain Top Employees,” Forbes, 12 September, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2022/08/24/why-offering-retirement-benefits-helps-attract-and-retain-top-employees/?sh=71de76373710