Process Payroll Contributions (Manual Entry)


Key Takeaway

User-friendly instructions for employers with fewer than 50 participants.

To log in you will need your User ID and Temporary Password. Your Password will arrive several days after you receive your User ID. If you do not have your User ID and/or Temporary Password, please contact your account administrator.

Submitting Contributions

  1. 1

    Log into Employer Access, then click on Plan Access and select your Plan ID.

  2. 2

    Under Manage My Contributions, select Contribution Submission.

  3. 3

    Click Add New Contribution, select the appropriate payroll frequency, then set the payroll date and click Create.

  4. 4

    Select Entry to enter data in real time (no file needed).

  5. 5

    Select Contributions, Loans (if applicable), or Both and click Next.

  6. 6

    Select Participants. Participants can be sorted by Social Security Number, last name, or first name and filtered by status or division. Check the box next to each participant receiving a contribution, then click Next.

  7. 7

    Enter the contribution total for each source you are submitting. Click Save next to each total you enter. The source boxes can be moved or resorted in any order using drag-and-drop. Click Next.

  8. 8

    For each participant, enter the contribution amount by source. Columns will total, by source, at the bottom of the page. Click Next when Source Totals and the amounts entered match. If you are not able to click Next, review totals. Next is only available when the totals match.

  9. 9

    Select the Funding Method: ACH (if set up), check, or wire/ACH credit. Enter the amount and click Next. If you would like to set up an ACH account to facilitate the most efficient contribution processing, please contact your Account Administrator.

  10. 10

    The Verification page allows you to perform a final check before submitting your file. It includes a source breakdown and a review of participant detail. Verify all data is correct and click Submit. The contribution is not received at Alerus until the Submit button has been clicked.

  11. 11

    The Confirmation page is the final screen and includes the data verified on the previous screen. Select Print for a PDF confirmation. In Contribution Submission, you will see both the submitted file and the PDF confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I contact if I have questions on how to submit payroll data to Alerus?

Contact Alerus at 800.433.1685 and a representative will assist you with your payroll submission questions.

Is the transfer of information secure using the Alerus web site for contribution submission?

Alerus deploys several different measures to protect the security and confidentiality of employee information. These include:

  • Electronic files must be transmitted using Internet browsers that have a high-security standard of 128-bit encryption.
  • A valid user ID and password are required to access the contribution website.

What is the ACH cutoff time?

If the contribution file is received by 1 p.m. Central Time on a business day, the ACH is typically initiated that day. If the file is future dated, the ACH will be initiated on the business day coinciding with or following the pay date.

How does Alerus define a “non-business day”?

Non-business days are Federal Reserve holidays, closed market days, and weekends. We are unable to process transactions on those dates. To find Federal Reserve holidays, refer to payroll tools on payroll.com. To find closed market days, refer to the holiday calendar on nyse.com.

What is the Department of Labor (DOL) requirement regarding the timing of depositing retirement plan contributions into the trust?

The DOL states “plan contributions should become plan assets on the earliest date they can reasonably be segregated from the employer’s general assets.” For example, if an employer could reasonably segregate plan contributions from their general assets in three business days, the DOL requires that you remit contributions within that timeframe and not delay remittance beyond that time.

What causes a delay in contributions being deposited into the trust?

The most common reasons for a delay in contributions being deposited are:

  • The deposit amount does not match the contribution detail.
  • Alerus does not have enrollment information for all participants that made a contribution.

How do I submit information to Alerus if I use a payroll vendor?

Contact your payroll vendor to request establishing a downloadable file using Alerus’ standard payroll format.