Eligibility source: Department of Social Protection — MyFutureFund eligibility: €20,000 or more across all employments. Age and qualifying pension coverage conditions also apply.
Who is automatically enrolled?
You are automatically enrolled in My Future Fund if you meet all three of the following conditions:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | Between 23 and 60 |
| Income | Earning €20,000 or more per year |
| Pension status | Not already paying into a pension through your payroll |
Source: Gov.ie — Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System ↗
If you are an employee aged 18–22 (under 23) or 60–66, or you earn less than €20,000 a year across all employments, you may choose to opt in for employments where you are not paying into a pension through payroll. Opt-in requests are handled through MyFutureFund and NAERSA.
Contribution rates
Contributions are shared between you, your employer, and the State. They increase gradually over 10 years to give everyone time to adjust.
| Period | Employee | Employer | State | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years 1–3 (2026–2028) | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.5% | 3.5% |
| Years 4–6 | 3% | 3% | 1% | 7% |
| Years 7–9 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1.5% | 10.5% |
| Year 10+ (2035 onwards) | 6% | 6% | 2% | 14% |
Source: Gov.ie — My Future Fund contribution rates ↗
What it means for your take-home pay
For someone earning €40,000 in 2026, here is how auto-enrolment contributions break down per year:
| Contributor | Rate | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| You (employee) | 1.5% | €600 |
| Your employer | 1.5% | €600 |
| State top-up | 0.5% | €200 |
| Total going into your pension | €1,400 | |
Example based on €40,000 gross salary. Your contributions are deducted from gross pay before it reaches your bank account.
Can you opt out?
Yes, but not immediately. You must be enrolled for at least 6 months before you can opt out. The opt-out window is months 7 and 8 after enrolment. If you opt out during this window, you receive a refund of your own contributions.
What if you already have a pension?
If you are actively contributing to a qualifying work or private pension through payroll, that employment may be exempt from My Future Fund under the scheme rules.
NAERSA uses Revenue payroll information to determine eligibility and cannot generally identify a private pension funded outside payroll. If you otherwise meet the eligibility conditions, you may still be automatically enrolled and can choose whether to contribute to both arrangements. Telling your employer does not opt you out: opt-outs, opt-ins and suspensions are handled through MyFutureFund and NAERSA. If you later begin contributing to a qualifying pension through payroll, that employment may become exempt under the scheme rules.
What this means in real life
For an eligible employee without an existing qualifying payroll pension, auto-enrolment can create a new deduction from take-home pay and a matching retirement contribution from the employer and State. The deduction is not income tax, USC or PRSI; it is money directed to the employee's auto-enrolment retirement account. Contribution percentages rise in stages under the system, so the payslip effect can increase over time. Opt-out and re-enrolment rules mean participation can change at specific points rather than at any moment. Someone already contributing to a qualifying occupational pension or PRSA through payroll may not be enrolled in the same way. The broader auto-enrolment guide explains the official rules and how the arrangement differs from other pension types.