• May 12, 2020

  Five tips for efficient year-end deduction reporting

  1. Employee receiving a lump sum payment? Set the pay duration to “LS” in your payroll software. Change the pay duration field to “LS” in your payroll software prior to exporting your May deduction report to ensure that employees are setup correctly for the June report. 2. Fo...

• May 7, 2020

  MTRS Guidance on potential furloughs and other fiscal emergency measures

  The MTRS is hearing that due to the anticipated economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, school district employers may be considering local cost saving measures and wondering how they would impact their employees’ retirement benefits. If your district is considering such measures, we encourag...

• April 30, 2020

  Current GASB Report for MTRS employers now available

  The MTRS has been working with representatives from the State Comptroller’s office, the Public Employees’ Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC), and KPMG to issue the GASB Statement No. 68 schedules for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 to be used by our employer units in their FY2020 finan...

• April 15, 2020

  New State and Federal laws impact post retirement restrictions and paid sick leave

  As the MTRS continues to provide essential services remotely, we appreciate your assistance in providing benefits to your employees and retirees during this difficult time. New State and Federal laws impact post retirement restrictions and paid sick leave Legislation temporarily changes earnings and...

• April 8, 2020

  Three processing reminders for the spring season

  As the MTRS continues to provide essential services remotely, we appreciate your assistance providing benefits to your employees and retirees during this difficult time. Three processing reminders for the spring season Group insurance rate changes for July 1, 2020: Beat the rush! Deadline reminder: ...

• March 12, 2020

  Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, As we all continue to monitor the evolving impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the MTRS is implementing modifications...

• February 5, 2020

  Active MTRS member reporting

  Deadline for finalizing 2019 reports is March 27, 2020 The deadline for finalizing the 2019 calendar year deduction reports is Friday, March 27, 2020. We will notify Superintendents of “severely delinquent” employers with 4 or more months of deduction reports that have not reached “...

• January 17, 2020

  Note the 2020 pensionable earnings limits for employees with membership dates after 12/31/1995

  As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...

• December 9, 2019

  Active member deduction reporting: Add your 2020 payroll calendar(s) in MyTRS

  As the busy holiday and W-2 seasons approach, now is an ideal time to add your 2020 payroll calendar(s) in MyTRS. Two critical reminders when adding your 2020 calendar(s): Do not delete or overwrite any of your previous years’ calendars. Please follow the exact steps in the Guided Practice to ...

• November 15, 2019

  Notice of PRIM Board election; please forward to MTRS members

  The Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS) has been asked by the Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board to assist them in the statewide election for a representative of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System to the PRIM Board. As you may know, active and ret...

• November 12, 2019

  MTRS Board election now underway

  As we mentioned in our e-mail of July 31, 2019, we are now conducting an election for the two members of the Board who are elected by the active and retired members of our system. This election is held once every four years. If any of your employees who are MTRS members believe that they […]...

• November 6, 2019

  Active member reporting, new MyTRS feature: Ability to return reports to “Initial” status

  We are excited to announce a new feature in MyTRS that allows your district’s Employer Services Representative to return a deduction report in “Pending” status back to “Initial” status in order for you to be able to make required corrections or adjustments. If your repo...

• November 4, 2019

  Three retiree insurance reminders for the winter season

  1) Group insurance rate changes for January: Beat the rush! Please send your new senior rates to us ASAP so everyone’s changes can be processed on time If you have already submitted your group insurance rate changes for January, thank you. If not, at your earliest convenience, please complete ...

• October 22, 2019

  Monthly deduction report reminders for the fall

  With the 2019-2020 school year underway, we would like to offer some reminders to help you have a more successful reporting year. 1. September deduction report audits We will be reviewing the salaries and position codes reported in your September report, and may ask you to confirm or edit the provid...

• October 17, 2019

  Retirement seminars starting soon—Two western MA locations just added!

  UPDATED AS OF 10/24/2019 For MTRS Tier 1 members (established membership BEFORE April 2, 2012) As we recently announced, we will be presenting our popular “Ready for Retirement” seminar at 9 locations across the Commonwealth. Please remind your soon-to-be-retiring employees that we’...

• October 11, 2019

  Employer training programs on two topics to be presented in November

  Be sure to register at least five business days before your preferred session. Space is limited, so if you register and cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible. If needed based on demand, we will schedule additional sessions and notify you of their availability. Feel free to share this e...

• September 9, 2019

  Mailing address for active member deduction payments has changed

  Effective immediately, the mailing address for all monthly deduction reporting payments by check has changed to: Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System PO Box 358020 Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5020 Our bank will be accepting payments at the old address for at least a few weeks so if you have rece...

• July 31, 2019

  MTRS Board election to be held this fall; please spread the word to your employees who are MTRS members

  As you may know, the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement Board is comprised of seven members, two of whom are elected by the members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System for four-year terms. Since the terms of our incumbent elected members expire on December 31, 2019, the Boar...

• July 24, 2019

  MTRS deduction reporting: Follow these three steps to set up your new hires in MyTRS

  Step 1: Ensure that your employees are eligible for MTRS membership BEFORE you register your new hires in MyTRS, make sure that they are eligible for MTRS membership by reviewing our eligibility criteria. Key reminders Employees must meet all four regulatory eligibility requirements. (Exceptions: Th...

• June 26, 2019

  MTRS members’ 2018 account statements were mailed June 25

  On Tuesday, June 25, annual statements were mailed to the home addresses of our more than 109,000 active and inactive members. For your reference, and in support of your continuing and valued efforts to have unenrolled members complete the MTRS online enrollment process, we are also taking this oppo...

• June 21, 2019

  MyTRS will be offline Friday evening and Saturday

  MyTRS will be offline for maintenance tonight, 6–9pm, and tomorrow, 9am–6pm. During this time, MyTRS will not be available to members, and a message advising members that MyTRS is temporarily offline will appear on our Member sign in and Enroll in the MTRS pages. Questions? Contact your districtR...

• May 30, 2019

  MyTRS will be offline Friday evening to Monday morning

  From 6pm on Friday, May 31 through 6am on Monday, June 3, MyTRS will be offline for maintenance. During this time, MyTRS will not be available to newly enrolling members, and a message advising members that MyTRS is temporarily offline will appear on our “Enroll in the MTRS” page. Questi...

• May 23, 2019

  Ensure that your year-end deduction reporting goes smoothly with these five tips

  For any employee who will receive a lump sum payment for the summer, use the pay duration code of “LS” in your payroll software. Also, be sure to do this before you export your June deduction report from your payroll system. As a best practice, we recommend that you enter these LS codes ...

• May 6, 2019

  Please submit your retirees’ July group insurance rate changes by May 31st

  Deadline reminder: For your July 1st group rate changes to be processed in time to be reflected in our retirees’ June 30th checks (in payment of the July 1st premium), you must submit them no later than May 31st. If you have not yet submitted your group insurance rate changes for July premiums...

• May 1, 2019

  Employer training programs on two topics to be presented in June

  Be sure to register at least five business days before your preferred session. Space is limited, so if you register and cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible. If needed based on demand, we will schedule additional sessions and notify you of their availability. Feel free to share this e...

• April 24, 2019

  Reminder: “Your MTRS Benefits” seminars coming soon—please spread the news!

  As we recently announced in our e-mail of April 11, in May we will be holding “Your MTRS Benefits” educational seminars throughout the Commonwealth. Please help us publicize our programs by reminding your employees who are MTRS members that they are being offered, and that this is a prim...

• April 11, 2019

  “Your MTRS Benefits” seminars coming soon—please spread the news!

  In May, we will be presenting “Your MTRS Benefits,” our two-hour retirement education program for all MTRS members who want to learn about the MTRS retirement plan and benefits. Please help us publicize our programs by letting your employees who are MTRS members know that they are being ...

• March 28, 2019

  Three processing reminders for the spring season

  Group insurance rate changes for July 1, 2019: Beat the rush! Deadline reminder: For your July 1st group rate changes to be processed in time to be reflected in our retirees’ June 30th checks (in payment of the July 1st premium), you must submit them no later than May 31st. If you have already...

• March 12, 2019

  Current GASB Report for MTRS employers now available

  Over the last few months, we have worked with representatives from the State Comptroller’s office, the Public Employees’ Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC), and KPMG to issue the GASB Statement No. 68 schedules for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 to be used by our employer ...

• January 23, 2019

  Active member deduction reporting reminder: ADD your 2019 payroll calendar(s) in MyTRS

  It’s the start of a new year and that means it’s time to add your 2019 payroll calendar(s) in MyTRS. If you haven’t done this already, be sure to add your calendar(s) BEFORE you import your January report. When adding your 2019 calendar(s)… Do not delete or overwrite any of your pr...

• January 18, 2019

  MyTRS member registration process enhanced: New fields, new form

  In July 2018, in an effort to improve our online registration and enrollment processes for employers and members alike, we asked school district representatives who register our members in MyTRS for feedback on the process. As a result of your comments, we have made the following changes, which will...

• January 15, 2019

  Note the 2019 pensionable earnings limits for employees with membership dates after 12/31/1995

  As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...

• November 5, 2018

  Three annual reminders regarding MTRS retiree insurance processing

  1) Group insurance rate changes for January: Beat the rush! Please send your new senior rates to us ASAP so everyone’s changes can be processed on time If you have already submitted your group insurance rate changes for January, thank you; if not, at your earliest convenience, please complete ...

• October 25, 2018

  Employer training programs on two topics to be presented in November and December—register now!

  Be sure to register at least 5 business days before your preferred session. Space is limited, so if you register and cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible. If needed based on demand, we will schedule additional sessions and notify you of their availability. Feel free to share this e-ma...

• October 24, 2018

  Member seminars starting soon; Woburn program just added

  “Ready for Retirement” seminars starting soon—Woburn program just added For MTRS Tier 1 members (established membership BEFORE April 2, 2012) As we recently announced, we will soon be presenting our popular “Ready for Retirement” seminar at 9 locations across the Commonwealth...

• October 22, 2018

  Employer news, October 18, 2018

  “Ready for Retirement” seminars coming soon— please spread the word! For MTRS Tier 1 members (established membership BEFORE April 2, 2012) In November, we will be presenting our popular “Ready for Retirement” seminar at 9 locations across the Commonwealth. Please remind your ...

• October 10, 2018

  MTRS employer news: 2018 Deduction reporting deadline and reminders

  Payroll deduction reporting updates Deadline for 2018 reports: March 8, 2019 We have recently begun notifying the superintendents of districts that are severely delinquent in deduction reporting of their district’s status, and we will send additional notices to delinquent districts in the comi...

• October 5, 2018

  Employer news, October 5, 2018

  For employers and members: Beware of sales solicitations that say “MTRS” We are not affiliated with, nor do we endorse, any commercial companies Occasionally, financial planning companies will use “MTRS” in their advertising or presentation materials, or otherwise imply that ...

• July 5, 2018

  MTRS update: Note the 2018 pensionable earnings limits for employees with membership dates after 12/31/1995

  As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...

• May 1, 2018

  MTRS news: Update regarding “regular compensation” for members receiving workers’ compensation

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, We are writing to advise employers that our regulatory agency, the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERA...

• April 10, 2018

  MTRS news: Three retiree insurance reminders for the spring season

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these three reminders regarding retiree insurance processing: 1) Group insurance rate changes for July 1, 2018: B...

• April 9, 2018

  MTRS update: GASB Statement No. 68 Report now online

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Over the last few months, we have worked with representatives from the State Comptroller’s office, the Public Employees’ Reti...

• February 23, 2018

  MTRS notice: SJC decision regarding “regular compensation” for members receiving workers’ compensation

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, We are writing to advise employers that the Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed a determination by the Contributory Retiremen...

• November 27, 2017

  MTRS update: Upcoming enrollment outreach initiatives

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, As you know, your employees who are joining the MTRS for the first time, or who are already members and are changing district...

• November 7, 2017

  MTRS news: Three retiree insurance reminders for the fall season

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note our annual fall reminders regarding retiree insurance processing: Group insurance rate changes for January: Beat ...

• August 24, 2017

  MTRS update: 2 tips and 5 reminders for enrolling new hires

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, With the new school year about to begin, MTRS enrollment season is in full swing. Below are some tips and reminders for succe...

• January 3, 2017

  MTRS update: Payroll deduction reporting news, tips and reminders

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these two important updates regarding: the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2016 deduction reports; and ...

• October 21, 2016

  MTRS news: Three retiree insurance reminders for the fall season

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these three timely fall reminders regarding retiree insurance processing: 1) Group insurance rate changes for Jan...

• March 23, 2016

  MTRS news: Two timely updates regarding deduction reporting

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these two timely updates: 1) The deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2015 deduction reports was Friday, Mar...

• January 14, 2016

  MTRS update: Payroll deduction reporting news, tips and reminders

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these two important updates regarding: the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2015 deduction reports; and ...

• November 25, 2015

  MTRS news: Three important updates regarding retiree insurance processing

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these three timely updates regarding retiree insurance processing: 1) Global insurance rate changes for January: ...

• February 6, 2015

  MTRS update: Retiree Insurance functions now available in MyTRS

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, In October, we added Retiree Insurance functions to the employer self-service area in MyTRS, and asked a small number of dist...

• December 8, 2014

  MTRS update: Payroll deduction reporting news, tips and reminders

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these two important updates regarding: 1) the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2014 deduction reports; a...

• October 24, 2014

  MTRS update: You will need to change your MyTRS password on or after October 25, 2014

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note that, pursuant to our MyTRS Password Security Policy, you will need to change your password when you sign on to M...

• July 21, 2014

  MTRS update: FINAL deadline for active members to submit Part 2 of §3 purchase applications is August 31, 2014

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As you know, because of the extraordinary influx of §3 service purchase applications we received as a result of last year’s i...

• July 15, 2014

  MTRS reminders: Membership eligibility and the serious consequences of improper enrollment

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, As you begin another busy hiring and MTRS enrollment season, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance ...

• March 18, 2014

  MTRS update: Payroll deduction reporting news and a reminder

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please take note of these two timely updates: 1) 2013 deduction reports: The deadline for finalizing your calendar year 2013 ...

• March 6, 2014

  MTRS update: New process for reporting retiree insurance changes

  Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Note: If your district is one of the 47 districts currently participating in the GIC’s Retired Municipal Teacher (RMT) program, this update do...

• February 7, 2014

  MTRS update: Payroll deduction reporting news, tips and reminders

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please take note of these three timely updates: 1) 2013 deduction reports: The deadline for finalizing your calendar year 201...

• December 13, 2013

  MTRS update: Payroll deduction reporting news, tips and reminders

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these important updates regarding: 1) the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2013 deduction reports; 2) th...

• November 26, 2013

  MTRS reminder: Pensionable earnings limitations for members hired after 1/1/2011

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers: As a reminder, the federal Internal Revenue Code 401(a)(17) limits the amount of annual pensionable earnings (“regular compen...

• September 25, 2013

  MTRS update: October 2 deadline for Part 2 of §3 service purchase applications

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As you know, due to the extraordinary influx of §3 service purchase applications as a result of the interest rate increase th...

• September 10, 2013

  MTRS update: Member online enrollment tool now available

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As scheduled, the member self-service module in MyTRS is now available for your newly hired members to use to enroll in the M...

• August 22, 2013

  MTRS reminder: Member deadline to submit Part 2 of §3 purchase applications is October 2, 2013

  Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As explained in our broadcast e-mail of March 13, to help ease the administrative burden on you, and to assist members in qua...

• March 13, 2013

  MTRS reminder: April 2 is the deadline for purchasing §3 service at lower interest rate

  Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, As a final reminder, and also clarification of our e-mail of February 15, the application filing deadlines for §3 creditable service purchases...

• February 15, 2013

  MTRS §3 service purchases at buyback interest: Member app portion due 4/2/2013; employer app portion due 10/2/2013

  Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, As you know, pursuant to pension reform legislation enacted in November 2011, the interest rate charged on certain service purchases will doub...

• April 19, 2012

  MTRS update: Deduction reporting progress; future steps and deadlines, if applicable

  Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, I am writing to bring you up to date on the progress that districts have made since my e-mail to you of February 16, and also to advise distri...

• February 16, 2012

  MTRS update: Deduction reporting

  Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, This communication is to report on the progress we are making with the new retirement contribution deduction reporting system and to ask for y...