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Auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme - FAQs

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Summary

Answers to questions about auto-enrolment when using Sage 50 Payroll Ireland. NAERSA also refers to auto-enrolment as My Future Fund.

Answers

What is auto-enrolment?

Auto-enrolment started on 1 January 2026. It helps eligible employees without workplace or private pensions save for retirement through My Future Fund.

Employees don't need to apply. NAERSA enrols eligible employees automatically using the payroll data that you send in an auto-enrolment submission.

For full details on the new retirement savings system, view the following guidance from Revenue.

Who qualifies?

Employees qualify if they:

  • Are between 23 to 60 years old
  • Earn €20,000 or more per year across all employments
  • Don’t have an existing pension scheme in payroll software
    For example, occupational pension, personal retirement savings account (PRSA), retirement annuity contract (RAC), pan-European pension product (PEPP).

Employees outside these criteria can opt in voluntarily through the employee portal.

How the scheme works

NAERSA

  • Assesses eligibility using payroll submissions
  • Enrols employees into My Future Fund
  • Sends auto-enrolment payroll notifications to employers
  • Collects employee, employer, and State contributions
  • Manages investment of savings

Sage 50 Payroll Ireland

  • Retrieves AEPNs
  • Applies contribution instructions
  • Calculates contributions
  • Shows deductions on payslips and payroll reports
  • Submits your auto-enrolment contributions to NAERSA

How Sage 50 Payroll Ireland supports auto-enrolment

Sage 50 Payroll Ireland supports auto-enrolment through auto-enrolment payroll notification (AEPN) retrieval and payroll calculations.

You:

  • Retrieve AEPNs
  • Process the instructions in payroll
  • Submit payroll as normal

You don't decide eligibility or enrol employees. Contributions calculate only when NAERSA sends instructions via an AEPN.

Bespoke auto-enrolment pension training

We fully support the upcoming auto-enrolment changes in our Payroll solutions, including employee enrolment, contributions, and compliance. To help you prepare, we offer bespoke training covering:

  • Understanding the legislation and getting prepared
  • Guide through implementation with hands-on, product-specific sessions

Want training tailored to your needs? Leave your details and we’ll get in touch.