Making Payments to IMRF

EFT Payment System

Employers are required to make payments to IMRF by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) through First Data Government Solutions. This system uses a secure financial transaction processing network known as the Automated Clearing House (ACH) to electronically transmit funds from your employer’s account(s) to IMRF’s account based on your employer’s instructions.

You can make all types of IMRF payments through this system:

• Wage Reports (Regular Contribution, SLEP, ECO I, ECO II, Minimum Contribution)
• Advice Payment
• Employer ERI Cost
• Member ERI Cost
• After Tax Payment for Member Past Service
• Additional Funding of Your Pension Obligation
• Accelerated Payments

If you are using this account for the first time to make an IMRF payment:

To make a payment through First Data Government Solutions, you need an EFT and Personal Identification Number (PIN) code for each bank account you want to transmit payments from. If you do not have an EFT and PIN code for an account you want to use, you must:

1. Complete an IMRF Electronic Funds Transfer Enrollment Form 3.00.
2. IMRF will send you a confirmation packet in the mail after we process your Form 3.00. Set up your account using the EFT number and default PIN found in the confirmation packet.
1. As long as you keep your individual PIN, EFT number, and password secure, you will be the only one able to access your EFT account

Once you have set up your account, you can either pay online or pay by phone. Both systems are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year (though payments can only be processed on non-holiday weekdays before 2:30 PM; payments made after this time are processed on the next business day):

Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Funds Transfer

• Are there any fees or associated penalties for using EFT to make payments to IMRF?

  • IMRF will pay all Automated Clearing House (ACH) fees and charges associated with this process. If your employer’s bank charges its own fees related to EFT payments, your employer is responsible for paying these fees.

• What happens if I lose or forget my PIN or EFT number?

  • You are allowed three tries when prompted to enter your PIN. After three failed attempts, your account will be disabled. Call 1-800-332-4125 to speak to a First Data operator who will assist you in resetting your PIN.
  • The confirmation packet IMRF sent you after submitting Form 3.00 contains your EFT number. You can also call 1-800-332-4125 to speak to a First Data operator who will assist you in recovering your EFT number.

• What if I use more than one bank account to make payments to IMRF?

  • You will need to complete a separate Form 3.00 for each bank account. IMRF will assign a unique EFT number for each bank account associated with your employer profile.

• How do I make changes to my employer’s EFT contact name, address, telephone number, or bank account?

  • You can update information by completing a new "IMRF Electronic Funds Transfer Enrollment" (Form 3.00):
  • Mark the “Notice of Account Change” box” on page 1 of the form
  • Enter only the information you are changing

What happens if my account has insufficient funds?

• IMRF will automatically attempt the transaction a second time. If funds are insufficient after a second attempt, IMRF will send your employer a letter.

• How do I submit my IMRF wage report documents using the EFT system?

  • You cannot submit wage report information using the EFT system. You use First Data only to make payments to IMRF. You must submit your wage reports through Employer Access.

• On what date is the IMRF payment due?

  • IMRF payments are due on the 10th day of the following month. As an example, the January wage report is due on February 10th. The payment must be initiated before 2:30 P.M. Central Time, at least one business banking day prior to the due date, in order for the payment to settle in IMRF’s bank account on or before the due date. Please note that if the 10th falls on a Friday or weekend and you initiate the payment after 2:30 P.M. on Thursday, the payment will not be able to deposit to IMRF sooner than Monday the 13th, assuming it is a banking day.
  • If IMRF hasn’t received your employer’s payment by the 10th,, your employer will receive a courtesy reminder that payment is due. If you are unable to make the payment by the 10th, but have scheduled a payment prior to receiving the reminder, no action needs to be taken.
  • Penalties for late payments are charged after the 20th of the month.
  • You will not be able to schedule a payment more than 40 days in advance.

• How will I know that IMRF has received my payment?

  • At the end of each session, you will receive a Reference Number that confirms a successful transaction. You should keep the Reference Number along with the associated payment records for each transaction(s). The Reference Number along with your Employer Number allows us to retrace a specific payment.
  • You can review or change pending payments through your First Data account or by calling First Data at 1-800-662-6311. Once your payment posts to IMRF, you can view the payment in your IMRF Employer Access account under “Payment History”. To see the payment in relation to your account balance, click “Display Account Balance” under the Payment menu of your IMRF online account.

• How can I cancel or confirm my payment?

  • Call First Data at 1-800-662-6311 or access your online account to view, cancel, or edit your pending payments to IMRF.