A new e-learning module (tutorial), Reporting Newly Hired Employees, is now available. It’s designed to help reporting staff better understand the process of reporting new employees — whether they’re new to MPSERS, active MPSERS members, or retirees returning to work. It reflects the retirement plan changes related to PA 250 of 2023 and replaces an outdated module that was retired a few years ago. After covering the steps to take when a new employee is added to payroll, the tutorial provides six reporting examples — scenarios that illustrate decisions and questions you may have as new employees come on board. It also provides links to the plan election materials your new employees receive.
The link to this module appears in section 7.06.00: Reporting newly hired employees — overview of the Reporting Instruction Manual (RIM), and on the Tutorials page of the Employer Reporting website (under Reporting Resources > Education & Training).
We recognize that training is important to you, and encourage you to review this new tutorial, which takes about 10-20 minutes to complete. After completing it, we also ask you to provide feedback on it using the brief survey. Your valuable feedback allows us to improve our training materials.
We strongly encourage all RUs to test Wage and Contribution files using the new reporting file format, designed for Roth 457 contributions. The test site will be available until Aug. 22. Use this test site only for testing uploads in the new file format.
On July 10 you received an email announcing a new reporting test environment created to help your reporting unit (RU) prepare for implementing Roth 457 reporting. On July 18, we sent another email to the Web Administrator at each RU, providing a new password that is specific to your RU. Contact your Web Administrator for this password.
If you’ll be submitting files in the test environment you can find more information regarding the test site on our resource page, Using the Roth 457 test environment. Again, the password you’ll need should come from your Web Administrator rather than the general password first provided.
Beginning Aug. 25, the new file format will be required for all current reports.
If you encounter issues or see a defect in how the test site works, contact ORS_Web_Reporting@Michigan.gov. When contacting ORS, include screenshots and detailed information regarding the issue you’re reporting. Do not include complete Social Security numbers or other protected information.
ORS has published the GASB 68 and 75 Schedules Report for Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2024, with audited data for pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) and the auditor general's opinion letter. The report and supporting data and information are now available on the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) section of the Employer Information website.
Supporting data and information includes GASB 68 (Pension) data tables 1-4 and GASB 75 (OPEB) tables 6-9, as well as sample Required Supplemental Information and sample note disclosures for both pension and OPEB. Data in these tables is needed for complying with GASB requirements when preparing financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. In mid-August, Table 5 (Schedule of Covered-Employee Payroll by Employer) will be published. Data in Table 5 is used in the Required Supplementary Information schedules for both pension and OPEB. We’ll notify you by email when Table 5 is available.
If you have questions that are not fully answered in one of the FAQ sections, contact Employer Reporting at ORS_Web_Reporting@michigan.gov.
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As a reminder, do not submit wage records or a Detail 1 — Member Demographics (DTL1) record for employees who are under the age of 19 while in a temporary, intermittent, an irregular seasonal, or athletic position. The Retirement Act states that these employees are not members of MPSERS until they turn 19 or change jobs to one that’s a regular position.
By not submitting these records, you’ll also eliminate the need to make future adjustments and the need to submit a termination record. Please see Student employees in section 3.02 Special membership circumstances of the RIM.
In late July, an urgent tax-deferred payment (TDP) notice will be sent out to members who have previously entered into a TDP agreement and:
- Have interest charges that exceed their annual payment amount; or
- The scheduled deduction amount is not enough to pay off their agreement within the recommended 15 years; or
- Have exceeded the recommended 15 years to pay off their agreement.
The letter includes their current TDP information and encourages members to increase their current TDP deduction amount by completing and submitting the Supplemental TDP Agreement (R0654C) form. The form is available on the ORS member website under Forms and Publications. Members can also use the TDP calculators on the member website to calculate a payment that fits their budget and also pays off the agreement before they terminate employment or retire.
For more information, see RIM section 10.07.02: Processing the supplemental TDP agreement.
Interest has been posted to MPSERS member accounts effective July 1, 2025.
The interest rates are as follows:
- Basic and MIP members: 6.00%.
- Pension Plus members: 6.00%.
- Pension Plus 2 members: 6.00%.
ORS invests defined benefit contributions from both members and employers to fund future retirement benefits. Every year, ORS credits each defined benefit member’s account with an interest payment on their contributions that have been held on account for one full year.
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As you meet your staffing needs for the next school year, use Voya Financial’s New Hire Orientation to provide details on the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans and the retirement plan decision timeline.
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