Set Up STRS Retirement Deduction Codes

Ohio STRS (State Teachers Retirement System) is a public employee retirement system for certified/licensed teaching staff.

Deduction Codes for STRS Contributions

Deduction codes for STRS contributions must be set up on the Deduction Table page as follows:

After-Tax Plans

The deduction amount is the published rate for employee contributions, and the benefit amount is the published rate for employer contributions.

Employee Paid (or Salary Reduction) Pickup Plans

There must be two codes. One code representing the employee contribution will need a deduction amount equal to the published employee contribution rate and a zero benefit amount. The other code, which represents the employer contribution, will have a zero deduction amount and a benefit rate equal to the published employer contribution rate.

Straight Pickup Plans

There must be two codes. The first code, representing employee contributions, will require a deduction equal to the employee-paid portion of the published employee contribution rate. The benefit amount will equal the employer-paid portion of the published employee contribution rate. The second code, which represents employer contributions, will need a deduction amount of zero and a benefit amount equal to the published employer contribution rate.

Pickup on Pickup Plans

There must be two more codes. One code, which represents the employee contribution, will need a deduction amount equal to the employee-paid portion of the published employee contribution rate and a benefit amount equal to the employer-paid portion, weighted to include pickup on pickup, of the published employee contribution. The second code, which represents the employer contribution, will need a deduction amount equal to the published employer contribution rate, weighted to include pickup on pickup. Use the formulas in the examples below to determine the weighted rates.

Field descriptions

To set up an STRS Retirement deduction code record, you must enter or select valid information on the following tabs of the Deduction Table page:

General tab

Enter or select the following field values on the General tab of the Deduction Table page.

Field	Employee Deduction - What to enter or select	Employer (Board) Deduction - What to enter or select
Deduction Code	STRS	STRB
Title	STRS EMPLOYEE	STRS BOARD
Check Title	STRS EE	STRS BD
Frequency	Select the appropriate frequency code (e.g., A for All Pays).	Select the appropriate frequency code (e.g., A for All Pays).
Maintain Arrears	Select this option.	Leave this option unchecked.
Method	P - Table %	N - None
Subjective Gross	TT - Total Gross	TT - Total Gross
Include in EAC "What If" Calculator	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.

Employee tab

Enter or select the following field values on the Employee tab of the Deduction Table page.

Field	Employee Deduction - What to enter or select	Employer (Board) Deduction - What to enter or select
Withholding Account	Enter the STRS liability account (e.g., 01-0000-2150)	Leave this field blank or use the same liability account.
Deduction Amount/Rate	14.000000 Verify the current STRS employee rate with STRS.	0
Maximum Gross	0.00 (no maximum)	0
Crossover Middle Rate	0	0
Crossover Middle Maximum	0	0
Crossover High Rate	0	0
Maximum Deduction	0.00 (no maximum)	0
Maximum Method	Y - Year to Date	Y - Year to Date
Cafeteria Plan	N - Deduction is not part of the cafeteria plan	N - Deduction is not part of the cafeteria plan
Copy Bank Info to Vendor	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Deduction for a Bond	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.

Employer tab

Enter or select the following field values on the Employer tab of the Deduction Table page.

Field	Employee Deduction - What to enter or select	Employer (Board) Deduction - What to enter or select
Benefit Method	N - None	P - Table %
Benefit Amount/Rate	0	14.000000 Verify the current STRS employer rate with STRS.
Benefit Charging	N/A	A - All Pay Rates or P - Primary Pay Rates
Benefit Account	Leave this field blank.	Enter the STRS expense account (e.g., 01-1100-2210-000).
Benefit Liability Account	Leave this field blank.	Enter the STRS liability account (e.g., 01-0000-2150)
Maximum Benefit	0	0.00 (no maximum)
Encumber Benefits	Leave this option unchecked.	Select this option if encumbering benefits.
Times Encumbered	0	Enter the number of pay periods (e.g., 26).
Remaining	0	Enter the remaining periods for the current fiscal year.

Taxation tab

Enter or select the following field values on the Taxation tab of the Deduction Table page.

Field or Section	Employee Deduction (STRS) - What to enter or select	Employer Deduction (STRB) - What to enter or select
Deduction Tax Exemptions section - Federal Tax	Select this option.	Leave this option unchecked.
Deduction Tax Exemptions section - State Tax	Select this option.	Leave this option unchecked.
Deduction Tax Exemptions section - FICA Tax	Select this option.	Leave this option unchecked.
Deduction Tax Exemptions section - Local Tax	Select this option.	Leave this option unchecked.
Child Support Garnishments section - Mandatory	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Child Support Garnishments section - Child Support	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Benefit Taxes section - Federal Tax	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Benefit Taxes section - State Tax	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Benefit Taxes section - FICA Tax	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Benefit Taxes section - Local Tax	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.
Additional Withholding section - Calculate Prior to Additional Withholding	Leave this option unchecked.	Leave this option unchecked.

Vendor tab

Enter or select the following field values on the Vendor tab of the Deduction Table page.

Field	Employee Deduction - What to enter or select	Employer (Board) Deduction - What to enter or select
Vendor	Enter the STRS vendor code.	Enter the STRS vendor code.
Payment Frequency	Enter the payment frequency (e.g., monthly).	Enter the payment frequency (e.g., monthly).

Refer to STRS Retirement Deduction Codes Examples for examples of setting up STRS Retirement Deduction Codes for various requirements.

After setting up the STRS Retirement Deduction Codes, do the following:

Link the STRS deduction codes on the Retirement System Deductions page.
Assign the STRS deduction codes to certified employees on the Employee Deductions page.