Table of Contents
- Timely Reporting and Invoice Payments
- Run your own Monthly Error Reports
- Employer Payroll Reporting
- Maintain Agency Level Information Security (SUPERUSER)
- Orbit Employer Self-Service Login Tips
- Return-to-Work Allowance 2025
- NC 401k and NC 457 Payroll Submission Update
- Member & Employer Events
- SHP Events
- Financial Literacy Newsletter
State law requires contributions and reporting be submitted on or before the 5th business day of the month in order to be considered complete and avoid a penalty.
Part 3 of HB 1020 requires both contributions and reporting be submitted by the employer on or before the 5th business day of the month in order to be considered complete and avoid a penalty. Employee and employer contributions and reporting are not considered submitted until the Retirement Systems Division receives all required information.
This is a mandatory change. Thank you for all you do and proactively preparing for this important change. The schedule for CSI Contributions through 2025 is posted here.
Timely Reporting and Invoice Payments
To maintain correct information, it is important that you take time to correct errors in ORBIT. Please respond to your Employer Reporting Team representative promptly so that any issues can be addressed, and necessary adjustments can be processed as soon as possible.
Run your own Monthly Error Reports
As a reminder, employers now have access to their monthly ORBIT Error Reports on our website:
- Log into ORBIT as an employer
- Under the REPORTING options, select “Report Viewer”
- Select the “Employer Reporting” report type
- Select the “Detail Records in Error by Agency and Report Month – Self Service” report
- Select the “Report Month” and “Report Year
- The “Exception Type” and “Source of Entry” are auto populated and cannot be changed
- Select the Export Type which is either “Adobe PDF” or “Excel”
Employer Payroll Reporting
Your first point of contact is your assigned Employer Reporting Specialist, rather than the Orbit Employer Reporting OER@nctreasurer.com mailbox for:
- Payroll Reporting or Payroll error corrections.
- Employee Demographic changes (legible copies of Social Security card, Driver’s License, Passport or other Government issued ID) that verifies the changed information.
- Form ERRWK or Form 316 (all other Forms email to MemberRecords@nctreasurer.com)
- Please contact your assigned Employer Reporting Specialist (who sends your Agency Payroll Error report) directly to their email address or phone (919) 814-4590 (please listen to the options as they are subject to change and select Employer Reporting).
Maintain Agency Level Information Security (SUPERUSER)
Due to the nature of sensitive information handled at the N.C. Retirement Systems, it is highly recommended that all agencies participating and reporting through the ORBIT system do not share ORBIT User ID and Password. It is also highly recommended that CPA firms, Payroll Vendors, and other Third-Party Vendors should not be designated as the Agency Administrator SUPERUSER.
Each Agency should create one SUPERUSER. Only users with the role of SUPERUSER will have access to the Agency Administration function. The SUPERUSER is solely responsible for creating, removing & re-setting user id/passwords for all others needing access to log into the ORBIT Employer Self-Service page on our website.
Additional users can be assigned with defining roles, such as Agency Administration, Employer Reporting and Human Resources by the SUPERUSER. Each role has a restricted access and function.
Because ORBIT is a web-based program, it is also the responsibility of each employer to immediately remove a user when the employee leaves the agency; otherwise, the departing employee will continue to have access to employer reporting information.
Orbit Employer Self-Service Login Tips
The same website http://orbit.myncretirement.com/ is used for both:
- Orbit Employer Self-Service
- Orbit Member Self-Service
The difference is that the Employer cannot use FORGOT/CHANGE YOUR USERNAME or PASSWORD. The Employer MUST copy & paste the Employer credentials they were assigned by the SUPERUSER (or) contact SUPERUSER for reset.
Employers reporting issues logging in are often the result of:
- the Internet Browser being used (like CHROME or EDGE) has stored and is pre-populating the Member User Name & Password and
- the Employer is not taking care to use copy & paste to replace the Member User Name & Password (pre-populating by the Internet Browser) with the Employer User Name & Password that was assigned by the SUPERUSER.
(or)
if issues continue, the Employer should contact the SUPERUSER to reset the Employer User Name & Password.
Do you have a retiree of the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (LGERS) and/or the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) who is thinking about returning to work for an employer who participates in the same Retirement System from which they retired?
After observing the relevant waiting period, the retiree can earn whichever is greater without interruption to his or her monthly retirement benefit:
- 50% of gross pre-retirement compensation (excluding terminal payments) or
- $42,160 (2025 amount)
Retirees returning to work can confirm their personal return-to-work allowance in ORBIT.
Click here for more information about Return-to-Work Laws.
Reminder: NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans will no longer accept payrolls via email after the June 30 deadline. Take action now.
The Plan Service Center (PSC) is designed to connect you with NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans’ administrative tools and functionality. Payroll files should be submitted via File Upload through the PSC. This provides a higher degree of visibility into the payroll process and allows you to access all payroll information in a centralized location.
Do you need assistance? Call the NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans Service Team at 866-527-5267 (Option 3) or email NCPlansPyrlUpd@Empower.com.
Discover upcoming Retirement Systems webinars and events. Registration is required.
North Carolina State Health Plan'Understanding Your Medical Plan Options When You Become Medicare-Eligible' Webinars for Prospective Retirees
The State Health Plan’s 2025 “Understanding Your Medical Plan Options When You Become Medicare-Eligible” series continues!
These popular, free webinars are designed for active members who will soon be 65, are already 65 or older, and retirees getting ready to turn 65. Each event lasts approximately 2 hours and will explain important information regarding Medicare, retirement health benefit options and offer the opportunity to ask questions.
If you haven’t already, register soon, as these events fill quickly!
Upcoming webinars are scheduled for May 1, May 13, and May 29. Future webinars in June, July, and August are also scheduled. Click here to register!
Whether it is knowing what to do with your paycheck, paying for higher education, about how to improve their financial literacy.
Brad Briner is an investor by trade, a dad and the newly elected treasurer for the state of North Carolina. Each month, his team is creating a newsletter to break down the financial world into terms we can all understand.
Being financially literate is something everyone should strive for from the kid in school, to the worker in your office or factory, to seniors who may be relying on pensions. We’d love to have you join us on the financial journey.