Independent guide

Retirement contributions and plan codes

Identify the plan, who contributed, the eligible earnings base and whether an employee contribution is traditional or Roth.

Last updated September 13, 2026

Identify the plan, who contributed, the eligible earnings base and whether an employee contribution is traditional or Roth.

Separate employee contributions from the employer match

On $2,000 of eligible compensation, a 5% employee election produces $100. A $50 employer match is a separate contribution, so the employee deduction is $100, not $150. The provider’s account record should eventually reflect both deposits.

The provider name is not the plan type

TIAA, Vanguard or another name in a code does not identify the legal arrangement. Employers can operate 401(k), 403(b), 457 or pension arrangements with different rules. Historical labels can also remain after a provider change.

Traditional and Roth employee contributions have different current federal income-tax treatment. A contribution limit applies under the relevant plan and tax rules, not separately to every short label printed on a statement. Review contributions across all relevant rows and accounts.

Look up the codes in this section

Code or labelMeaning or possible interpretation
401(k)401(k) retirement contribution
ERPEarly-retirement payment or adjustment Confirm with employer
ERTTaxable early-retirement payment Confirm with employer
KMTCHTR on a Pay Stub“KMTCHTR” is a code or abbreviation that appears on some pay stubs, usually as part of the “other earnings” or “employer contributions / matching” section. It is not a universally
Paycheck Deduction PX401 EEPRE MeaningIf you've spotted PX401 EEPRE on your paycheck stub, you're likely dealing with a common payroll code related to retirement savings. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything
R4TEmployer 457-plan code associated with TIAA Confirm with employer
R4VEmployer 457-plan code associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer
R401Roth 401(k) contribution
RACAdditional retirement contribution associated with Calvert Confirm with employer
RATAdditional retirement contribution associated with TIAA Confirm with employer
RAVAdditional retirement contribution associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer
Ret 2 gen eeWhat Does RET-2-GEN-EE Mean on a Paycheck? RET-2-GEN-EE on a paycheck refers to an employee's contribution to a general retirement fund or plan. This label is often used by payroll
RSCSupplemental retirement contribution associated with Calvert Confirm with employer
RSTSupplemental retirement contribution associated with TIAA Confirm with employer
RSVSupplemental retirement contribution associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer
RTCBase retirement contribution associated with Calvert Confirm with employer
RTTBase retirement contribution associated with TIAA Confirm with employer
RTVBase retirement contribution associated with Vanguard Confirm with employer
TRSTeacher Retirement System or other retirement-system contribution

Source and next step

See the official background guidance for the underlying rules. Internal abbreviations are employer-defined and must be confirmed locally.

Browse the complete payroll abbreviation directory or payroll guides for the wider context.