ERISA exempts only two types of employers: Employee benefit plans maintained by governmental employers are exempt from ERISA's requirements. This exemption includes plans maintained by the federal, state or local (for example, a city, county or township) governments. Church plans are also exempt from ERISA.
ERISA also does not cover plans maintained outside the United States primarily for the benefit of nonresident aliens or unfunded excess benefit plans.
Common types of employer-sponsored retirement accounts that fall under ERISA include 401(k) plans, pensions, deferred-compensation plans, and profit-sharing plans. In addition, ERISA laws don't apply to simplified employee pension (SEP) IRAs or other IRAs.
All private employers and employee organizations, such as unions, that offer health plans to employees have to follow ERISA. Only churches and government groups are exempt. If you offer your employees health coverage, you'll have to follow certain rules and procedures as a result of ERISA.
Qualified plans include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, and Keogh (HR-10) plans. Nonqualified plans include deferred-compensation plans, executive bonus plans, and split-dollar life insurance plans.
Look at Employer Contributions: If your employer contributes to the plan or matches your contributions, it's likely an ERISA plan. Consider Your Employer: If you work for a private company, your plan is more likely to be ERISA. Government and church employees typically have non-ERISA plans.
ERISA also does not cover plans maintained outside the United States primarily for the benefit of nonresident aliens or unfunded excess benefit plans.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
The employer maintaining the plan or the plan administrator of a Pension or Welfare benefit plan covered by ERISA. File Form 5500 to report information on the qualification of the plan, its financial condition, investments and the operations of the plan.