EDX Reporting Terms

EDX

Employer Data Exchange. EDX is a web-based program for participating PERS employers to report payroll and demographic information directly to PERS. Free EDX Training classes are available.

Electronic transfer (ACH Agreement)

ACH is Automated Clearing House. ACH is a network of financial institutions that transmit money back and forth electronically. All payments to PERS must be made electronically using the ACH system.

ACH debit – Automatically pulls a payment for invoices presented on employer statements within five business days after the statement is presented.
ACH credit – Requires the employer to set up a push or manual fund transfer for each of the three plan types invoiced on each statement presented within five business days after the statement is presented.

Choose your method of payment by filling out the ACH Agreement form.

Employer contribution rate

The amount actuarially necessary as designated by the PERS Board that an employer must pay to adequately fund the benefits to be provided by the contributions of the employer.

There are three separate benefit programs: 238 Tier One, 238 Tier Two, and 238A OPSRP. Two are defined-benefit pension programs into which employers contribute a percentage of an employee's salary. Each benefit program may have a different employer rate assigned.

Note: Employer contributions are paid in addition to 6% member contributions.

See current contribution rates.

Employer contributions

Contributions based on a rate designated by the PERS Board. Employer contributions fund the actual costs of future retirement and death benefits.

Employer coverage types

When an employer provides PERS coverage, it extends PERS membership and benefits to its employees. PERS coverage types provide coverage to difference position types as outlined in statute.

Employer statement

A statement of invoiced and paid activity provided on an employer’s EDX home page twice a month on the 5th and the 20th.

EPPT

Employer paid pre-tax. Employers may elect to pay the pre-tax, 6 percent contribution on behalf of their employees.

Individual Account Program (IAP)

Employers report and forward member contributions equal to 6 percent of the member's subject salary. These contributions are deposited directly into the member’s IAP account.

Member contribution types

Member contribution types are categories of contributions that define who makes the contribution and how it relates to taxes. There are currently three types of contributions: member paid pre-tax (MPPT), member paid after-tax (MPAT), and employer paid pre-tax (EPPT). Electing or changing a contribution type requires an employer to notify PERS in writing and provide a Board resolution or bargaining contract. See EPPT, MPPT, and MPAT.

Member Redirect

The Member Redirect program (introduced by Senate Bill 1049 (2019)) eases employer rates by requiring PERS members to contribute to their future pensions. PERS members whose gross pay in a month exceeds the monthly salary threshold in effect for that calendar year have a portion of their 6% Individual Account Program (IAP) contributions redirected to their Employee Pension Stability Account (EPSA). Each member’s invested EPSA will help fund their pension when they retire.

The Member Redirect item on your invoice shows the credit you’re receiving from the program.

The Member Redirect salary threshold changes every January in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The program only operates when the PERS Fund is less than 90% funded.

MPAT

Member paid after-tax. Employers can also decide to deduct the 6 percent contribution AFTER all taxes are deducted.

MPPT

Member paid pre-tax. Employers selecting member paid pre-tax (MPPT), deduct the 6 percent contribution from their member’s salary prior to calculating the tax deduction.

Non-subject salary

Salary that is not subject to contributions and does not qualify to earn PERS benefits.

PERS and OPSRP subject salary

Table of salary and/or value added benefits that are subject to PERS contributions. The table is available here.

PERS contributions

The money given to a retirement system to fund member’s benefits. Contributions are made by both members and employers.

PERS plans

PERS has three plans:

Tier One: Hired on or before 12/31/1995.
Tier Two: Hired between 1/1/1996 and 8/28/2003.
Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP): Hired on or after 8/29/2003.

Reporting frequency

PERS assigns each employer a reporting frequency that most closely matches its pay cycle in accordance with OAR 459-070-0100. There are four reporting frequencies: monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly. See Regular Report Dates. Regular reports are due within three business days of your assigned date.

Reporting official

Individual an organization identifies as the person charged with overseeing the PERS payroll reporting process. Typically, the head of the agency or someone who makes financial decisions. The individual is responsible for designating the web administrator.

Reporting periods

Refers to the time period between report dates, which is when the activity is captured to create regular Wage and Contribution Reports. For instance, an employer reporting monthly would have a report dated 06/30/2014, with a report period of June 1–June 30.

Side account

When your organization makes a lump-sum payment to prepay all or part of your pension unfunded actuarial liability (UAL), the money is placed in a special account called a “side account." This account is attributed solely to the employer making the payment and is held separate from other employer reserves. The money is invested in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF) and is subject to earnings and losses.

Social Security administrative fee

Per Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 237.500, Oregon public agencies must pay a fee to help cover some of the costs of administering Social Security coverage to Section 218 employers. The contributions (charged on a pro-rated basis to each agency) are deposited into the state’s Social Security Revolving Account and used by the Public Employees Retirement Board to administer Social Security coverage.

For more information, read OAR Chapter 459 Division 20, “Old-Age and Survivors Insurance” and the PERS FAQ “What Is the Social Security Fee?”

Subject salary

An active member’s salary that is subject to PERS contributions and earns PERS benefits.

UAL

Unfunded actuarial liability. The difference between accrued assets (employer contributions and investment earnings) and accrued liabilities (the cost of pension benefits). If a fund’s liabilities are larger than its assets, there is a UAL. The debt is paid by splitting it among affected employers in an equitable manner. To learn more, read Guide to Understanding UAL.

UAL and side account wash

Current year accumulated UAL and side account credit are zeroed out at the end of the calendar year. Any remaining unused credits are factored into your future contribution rate.

UAL contribution

The portion of your contribution rate that will be applied to UAL, transition liability, or pre-SLGRP liability.

UAL credit

Credit from your organization’s side account(s), transition surplus, pre-SLGRP surplus, or negative UAL rate.

Unbilled Activity Report

Report of all invoice activity presented between statement periods as a result of employer report submission or individual account adjustments. See instructions in guide 24, Running Reports.

Work After Retirement

If you choose to hire (or continue employing) any PERS service retiree during 2020 through 2034, most of those retirees (note the exceptions on the SB 1049 Changes: Work After Retirements webpage) can work an unlimited number of hours in those calendar years while continuing to receive their pension benefit.