Auto-Enrolment Update: November 2025 Payroll Deadline

October 1, 2025

Auto-Enrolment Update: November 2025 Payroll Deadline

The launch of Ireland’s new Auto-Enrolment pension scheme, My Future Fund, is edging closer and the timeline has just shifted again. Employers now need to act sooner than expected.


We have received confirmation from our pension advisors that the latest payroll by which employees must be enrolled in a company pension scheme is November 2025.


If you already have a pension scheme in place, this means you must ensure all eligible employees are included in that scheme before your November payroll is processed. Otherwise, they may be enrolled into My Future Fund automatically.


What is Auto-Enrolment?

Auto-Enrolment is a new system designed to ensure employees who are not already saving for retirement are automatically enrolled into a pension scheme. It will apply to employees who:


  • Are aged between 23 and 60,
  • Earn over €20,000 per year, and
  • Are not currently members of a pension scheme.


The scheme is being run by NAERSA (National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority) and aims to significantly increase pension coverage across Ireland.


Why has the deadline changed?

Initially, employers expected to have until the very end of 2025 to get ready. However, NAERSA has confirmed that they will need to extract employee data from Revenue in mid-December 2025 in order to:


  • Identify employees who are not in an existing pension scheme, and
  • Issue notifications to employers ahead of the January 2026 payrolls.


This means the November 2025 payroll is the last opportunity for employers to get employees enrolled in their own company pension scheme before Revenue data is collected.


What happens if employees are not enrolled by November payroll?

Any eligible employees not already in a company pension scheme will be automatically included in My Future Fund. While this ensures pension coverage, it may not be the most suitable option for either the employer or the employee.


Employers who already have pension schemes in place should act now by engaging with eligible staff and securing their agreement to enrol them before the November deadline. What employers should do now

To prepare for this accelerated deadline, employers should:


1. Review your current pension scheme

Check which employees are enrolled and whether any eligible staff are still outside the scheme.


2. Act before November payroll

Ensure that all contributions are being captured in the November 2025 cycle.


3. Communicate with employees

Let staff know about Auto-Enrolment and the importance of being included in a pension scheme.



4. Seek expert advice

If you don’t currently offer a pension scheme, or if you are unsure about your compliance, seek professional guidance.


How MSS The HR People can help

At MSS The HR People, we are supporting employers across Ireland as they prepare for Auto-Enrolment. We can help you to:


  • Review your existing pension arrangements,
  • Identify gaps in employee enrolment,
  • Work with your pension provider to ensure compliance, and
  • Put in place the right communications and supports for your workforce.

 

Next steps

The message is clear: November 2025 payroll is the new deadline. Employers cannot afford to wait until January 2026.


Contact MSS The HR People today to discuss your preparations and ensure your business, and your employees, are ready.


Phone: 018870690


Email: info@mssthehrpeople.ie

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