Prepare Your Business for Auto-Enrolment
Is Your Business Ready for 2026?
Ireland’s Auto-Enrolment (AE) system launches in January 2026. If your staff aren’t already in a pension scheme, you’ll be legally required to auto-enrol them.
Let Moore Financial ensure your business is prepared, compliant, and strategic.
Auto-Enrolment (AE) – What You Need to Know?
Auto Enrolment is a government-backed pension savings system that will automatically enroll eligible employees into a pension scheme called My Future Fund.
The program addresses Ireland’s pension coverage gap by ensuring workers who aren’t already in a pension scheme begin saving for retirement.
AE applies to employees aged 23–60 earning over €20,000
Employer Obligations
Mandatory Participation
All employers must participate in Auto Enrolment unless they already offer a qualifying pension scheme that meets or exceeds AE standards.
Contribution Matching
Employers must match employee contributions according to the mandated schedule, starting at 1.5% and eventually reaching 6% of qualifying earnings.
Administrative Compliance
Employers will need to maintain records, facilitate enrollment, and ensure timely transfer of contributions to the My Future Fund.
Employers should begin preparing now by assessing if their current pension arrangements meet Auto Enrolment standards or considering alternatives like Master Trusts or Group PRSAs.
Your Options as an Employer
You can go beyond the AE scheme and offer a better experience:
- Set up or review a PRSA or Occupational Pension Scheme
- Offer more flexibility, tax efficiency, and investment choice
- Use pension benefits as a tool to retain talent
Contribution Structure and Timeline
Year 1 (2026)
Starting contributions
- 1.5% from employee
- 1.5% from employer
- 0.5% State top-up
Years 2-9
Gradual increase in contribution rates for all parties over time
Year 10
Final contribution rates
- 6% from employee
- 6% from employer
- 2% State top-up
Key Takeaways for Irish Employers
Start Planning Now
Though implementation begins in 2026, employers should start reviewing current pension arrangements and planning for compliance well in advance.
Evaluate Current Schemes
Determine if existing pension arrangements qualify as alternatives to Auto Enrolment or if adjustments will be needed to meet compliance standards.
Budget for Increasing Costs
Factor gradual increases in mandatory employer contributions into long-term financial planning, eventually reaching 6% per eligible employee.
Communicate Early with Employees
Prepare to educate your workforce about Auto Enrolment, its benefits, and their options well before the 2026 implementation date.
How Moore Financial Helps
Our 10-Step Employer Checklist
We’ll help you:
- Assess who needs to be enrolled
- Review current schemes
- Evaluate financial impact
- Align payroll systems
- Register with AE portal
- Communicate with staff
- Attend AE readiness webinars
- Choose between AE vs PRSA / Master Trust
- Implement a long-term pension strategy
Let’s make your business AE-ready.
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