What is Form 5500?
Form 5500 is an annual report that employers must file for employee benefit plans, such as retirement or health plans. It provides key information about a plan’s financial condition, operations, and compliance. Form 5500 serves as a transparency tool for government agencies, plan participants, and other stakeholders. It’s a regulatory requirement under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which helps ensure that these plans are properly managed and transparent.
Developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Form 5500 collects key information about a plan’s financials, operations, and compliance status.
Who Needs to File Form 5500?
Most employers who offer employee benefit plans subject to ERISA must file Form 5500 annually.. Welfare benefit plans that provide benefits such as medical, dental, life insurance, or disability, are generally required to file as well.
Who is Exempt from Filing Form 5500?
Specific plans are exempt from this filing requirement. Below is a breakdown of the main exemptions:
- Small health and welfare plans
Health and welfare plans with fewer than 100 participants on the first day of the plan year may be exempt from filing if the plan is unfunded (benefits are paid directly from the employer’s general assets), fully insured (benefits are provided entirely through insurance policies), or both.
When determining whether a plan qualifies for the small plan exemption, only covered employees, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)-qualified former employees and covered retirees are counted. Dependents (spouses and children) are not included in this count.
- Unfunded plans
Unfunded plans pay benefits directly from the employer’s general assets and do not use a separate trust or fund. Certain Section 125 cafeteria plans may also qualify as unfunded if they meet the requirements outlined in the Department of Labor’s Technical Release 92-01.
- Fully insured plans
Plans that provide all benefits through insurance policies may also be exempt, provided the premiums are paid entirely by the employer or shared between the employer and employees.
When Is Form 5500 Due?
Form 5500 is due by the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. For calendar year plans, the deadline is July 31.
To request an extension, file Form 5558 before the due date. Please note that late filings may result in higher penalties.
Different Versions of Form 5500
- Form 5500
For plans with 100 or more participants, including most public and private businesses. This must be filed electronically via the EFAST2 system.
- Form 5500-SF
A simplified version for plans with fewer than 100 participants. It can also be filed electronically through EFAST2.
- Form 5500-EZ
For one-participant plans, this typically covers a business owner and spouse, with no other employees.
After filing Form 5500, plan administrators are required to share a Summary Annual Report (SAR), a brief summary of the information provided in the form. It must be shared with the participants and beneficiaries within 2 months of the filing deadline, typically by September 15, or December 15 if an extension was filed.
How to File Form 5500
For a seamless and error-free filing of Form 5500, mindfully follow the steps below:
Step 1. Determine if you need to file Form 5500 by countingall eligible employees, even if they’re not enrolled. Then choose the appropriate version of the form based on the number of plan participants.
Step 2. Create a DOL (Department of Labor) account. Register on the EFAST2 (ERISA Filing Acceptance System II) website. Please note that only authorized individuals can file on behalf of the plan.
Step 3. Complete the form online. Log in to EFAST2 and enter the following details:
- Plan start date and participant count
- Sponsor and administrator details
- Funding and benefit information
- Required schedules based on plan type
Step 4. Review your submission. Make sure you check for typos and any missing information.
Step 5. File your submission on or before the deadline. The deadline to fill Form 5500 is the last day of the seventh month after the end of the plan year (for example, July 31 for calendar-year plans). However, you can file request an extension until October 15 by filing Form 5558 on or before the original due date.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Here are some of the most common filing mistakes and simple ways to avoid them:
- Incorrect information entered → Always double-check all entries for accuracy before submitting.
- Blank required fields → Complete all fields; use “N/A” if a field doesn’t apply.
- Plan termination not reported → File proper termination forms and confirm all required notices are sent.
- Suspected fraud not reported → Report any fraud or abuse immediately to the DOL or law enforcement.
- Inactive plans not reported → Include all plans, even those with no activity, on Form 5500.
- Incorrect EIN or plan number → Verify the Employer Identification Number and plan number before filing.
- Including outdated information → Only report data relevant to the current filing period (within 12 months).
- Using an unauthorized filing system → File only through the official EFAST2 electronic system to avoid errors.
Penalties for Not Filing or Filing Incorrectly
Retirement plan sponsors who fail to file Form 5500-EZ may be entitled to penalty relief under Revenue Procedure 2015-32. This procedure only applies to non-ERISA, one-participant plans, meaning plans providing coverage to either a sole owner or a partnership, whether or not their spouses are included. It includes any foreign plans kept outside of the U.S. for non-resident aliens.
Please note that plans covered by ERISA do not qualify to use this procedure and must use the Department of Labor’s Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program.
The program applies to the late filing of Form 5500-EZ and, in some cases, Form 5500, for non-ERISA plans for which the plan sponsor filed before 2009. If you received notice of CP 283 that imposed a penalty, you cannot apply for relief for that year.
Here’s how you can apply for the penalty form:
- File one submission per plan, but include all delinquent years in the same package.
- Prepare paper Forms 5500-EZ (not electronic) for each missed year.
- Use the correct version of the form for each year (or the current year’s form if prior versions aren’t available).
- Check Box D on Part I and add this in red: “Delinquent Return Filed under Rev. Proc. 2015-32, Eligible for Penalty Relief” (for years without Box D).
- Attach Form 14704 on top of your submission.
- Include payment: $500 per return, capped at $1,500 per plan. Make checks payable to “United States Treasury.”
Once you’ve provided all the details, mail the form to this address: IRS, 1973 Rulon White Blvd., Ogden, UT 84201
