Coordinated Plan for ERS Tier 6 Members

(Article 15)

Contributing Toward Your Retirement

Coordinated Plan for ERS Tier 6 Members
(Article 15)

Contribution Rates Legislation Insert

Temporary Change to Tier 6 Contribution Rates

Some Tier 6 members may have their contribution rates temporarily reduced if they earned overtime pay from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022. The rate decrease will not apply to:

  • Members who are already paying the minimum contribution rate of 3 percent; or
  • Members who joined NYSLRS on or after April 1, 2020.

Please visit our Member Contributions page for more information.

1-06-membership-3011530

You are required to contribute a specific percentage of your reportable earnings for all your years of public service after your date of membership (see chart below). During the first three years of membership, your contribution rate is based on your annual wage provided by your employer when they enrolled you in NYSLRS. After this three-year period, your contribution rate will be based on what you actually earned two years prior. For part-time employees, your contribution rate is based on your annualized wage. Regardless of whether you work on a full- or part-time basis, however, the amount of your contribution is determined by applying your contribution rate to your current gross reportable earnings. Contribution rates are set April 1 of each year.

1-06-membership-3029001

Annual Wage Contribution Rate
Up to $45,000 3.00%
$45,000.01 to $55,000 3.50%
$55,000.01 to $75,000 4.50%
$75,000.01 to $100,000 5.75%
Over $100,000 6.00%

1-06-membership-3039001

If you are employed by more than one participating employer, once you join the Retirement System, all earnings and service earned in connection with all public employment must be reported to this System, even if your membership is only mandatory with one.

1-06-membership-3049001

Under Internal Revenue Code Section 414(h) (as of July 1, 1989), your required contributions are tax-deferred until they are distributed to you. These contributions are reportable for federal income tax only when you withdraw or retire from the Retirement System. Therefore, your contributions are:

  • Not reported as wages for federal income tax;
  • Reported as wages for New York State and local income taxes;
  • Reported as wages for Social Security;
  • Reported as wages to the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System; and
  • Calculated on your full gross earnings, before any reductions for any other tax-deferred plan.