People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

Tax deferred annuity plan 403(b)

Eligible employees may elect pre-tax salary deductions for this retirement savings plan at any time during the year. Many self-directed investment options are available through a variety of participating providers. Management employees receive an employer provided 2% contribution to the tax deferred annuity plan of the employee’s choice after a one year waiting period. The 2% management contribution replaces the early retirement stipend.

Eligible employees include Full-Time and Part-Time Faculty, Classified, Managerial, Academic Professionals, Confidentials, and Casual employees.

What is a tax deferred annuity plan?

A tax deferred annuity (also called a tax sheltered annuity) is a 403(b) retirement savings plan. A 403(b) plan allows you to set aside money for your future retirement security, via payroll deduction while you are still working. Deductions are taken on a pre-tax basis so you save tax money now by reducing your taxable gross income. You may elect either a flat amount to be deducted from your monthly paycheck or a percentage of pay. Deducting a percentage allows the deduction amount to adjust automatically as your pay goes up and down.

Once deducted, your contributions are sent to the college approved investment vendor of your choice. Your account will be invested as you have directed and interest earnings will be added to your balance. You are always 100% vested in your account, but withdrawal of monies prior to retirement is restricted and carries penalties dictated by the IRS.

How do I sign up?

You may open an account and begin contributions at any time during the year by selecting and contacting a college approved vendor.

  • After you open your account, you must send a completed Tax Deferred Annuity Plan Enrollment Form to benefits-group@pcc.edu and payroll-group@pcc.edu by the 15th of a month to be effective on the 1st of the following month.
  • Your deduction amount may be changed up to two times per calendar year. If you discontinue contributions, you may not resume participation in the program until the next calendar year.
  • PCC’s Tax Deferred Annuity plan is administered by Carruth Compliance Consulting. For information on distributions, rollovers, or transfers, please contact Carruth at 503-968-8961 or visit the Carruth Compliance Consulting, Inc website.

For more information, contact benefits-group@pcc.edu. A list of approved investment vendors is shown below. Important: You must set up your vendor account before notifying Benefits of your intent to participate in this program.

Tax deferral limit

The deferral limit for 2025 is as follows:

  • $23,500: Applies to employees under age 50 at the end of 2025
  • $31,000: Applies to employees aged 50-59 or over 63 by the end of 2025
  • $34,750: Applies to employees aged 60-63 by the end of 2025
  • 403(b) special 15 years of service catch-up: Up to an additional $3,000**

For more information or to determine if you are eligible for the 15 years of service catch-up, contact Carruth Compliance Consulting (CCC) at 503-968-8961.

*Note: Contributions to the plans above cannot exceed employees’ total compensation.
**Please contact CCC to verify eligibility and limits available under special catch-ups.

Third party administrator for tax deferred annuity plans

PCC uses the services of Carruth Compliance Consulting, Inc. (CCC), an independent third party administrator, to provide compliance and administration services for the College’s Tax Deferred Annuity 403(b) plan.

Forms requiring signature of the “Plan Administrator” should no longer come to PCC’s Human Resources department for signature and processing. All PCC employee withdrawal and transfer information requests and transactions should be sent directly to CCC.

Carruth Compliance Consulting contact information follows:

Available tax deferred account vendors

This list does not constitute an endorsement of any one of these plans by Portland Community College. You may be directed to call another number than the one listed. You should specify that you are interested in Tax Deferred Annuity information. Local representatives and their numbers have been listed for your convenience, but you may use any agent, as these are not exclusive agreements.

Vendor Area representative Phone number Toll-free number
Corebridge (formerly VALIC,AIG) Plan ID #01657 Jerimiah Gildea 503-276-1400 1-800-448-2542
Fidelity Retirement Services Plan ID #51921 1-800-343-0860
TIAA CREF Plan ID employee contribution #346821, employer contribution #346822 1-866-928-4221
Vanguard Group Plan ID #V10102422 1-800-569-4903
Voya Financial Plan ID #VT3495 Portland Office 503-937-0378 1-800-238-6281

PCC is in no way endorsing one plan over another and an employee’s 403(b) selections are ultimately based on their personal decisions.

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