The Form 5500: What All Employers and Plan Administrators Need to Know and How to Avoid Costly Fines
I sound like a broken record, but I won’t stop until 401(k) plan sponsors understand the issue of a late Form 5500 and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) penalties....more
“Solo 401(k)” is a marketing term used for a 401(k) plan that is adopted by a sole proprietor or an incorporated business with no employees other than the owner. These plans offer a greater retirement savings opportunity...more
The Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation recently issued final rules on employee benefit plan annual reporting requirements that are effective for plan years beginning on or...more
I think the Solo 401(k) plan is one of the great treats for sole proprietors. I have been using it for years. The problem is that there is so little help, that sponsors of these plans fall into a trap when they forget that...more
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released their final revisions to the Form 5500 and the Form 5500-SF Short Form Annual Return/Report of Small Employee Benefit Plan for the 2021 plan...more
With July 31st passing (the deadline for Form 5500 without an extension), it’s a great way to ponder if you have any outstanding Form 5500 issues such as a late return or an incomplete return (such as one missing a plan...more
The Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) is a Department of Labor (DOL) program designed to encourage voluntary compliance with ERISA’s 5500 program. It’s great as a plan sponsor if you forget to file a Form...more
When a plan terminates and distributes all its assets or merges all its assets into another plan, you need to understand that a Final Form 5500 needs to be completed. Otherwise, you will get notified by the Internal Revenue...more
Part of my job is fixing errors made by plan sponsors and their plan providers. Despite what the top payroll providers who also serve as third-party administrators (TPA) may say, a good part of that job is fixing the errors...more
The purpose of an audit of Form 5500 is to make sure that plan sponsors voluntarily comply with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA. Sometimes, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or Department of Labor (DOL) audit is done...more
401(k) Plan Mergers and Updated IRS Determination Letters - As part of an M&A transaction, your company may assume a new 401(k) plan that is sponsored by the acquired business. This article includes some common questions...more
Days are getting longer, temperatures are getting warmer, plants are looking greener, schools are letting out, Brood X cicadas are emerging…it can only mean one thing…5500 season is approaching. However, unlike the...more
Failure to file Form 5500 is costly as the Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has jurisdiction over the form and can set forth separate penalties....more
The Covid-19 pandemic and its shock to the country’s economy have been felt particularly hard by small employers, who are also likely to face a number of looming problems with their 401(k) plans. This article discusses three...more
In the midst of everything going on, we wanted to point out a few “under the radar” implications of IRS Notice 2020-23. The Notice, issued on April 9th, provides that tax-related deadlines that fall between April 1, 2020 and...more
One aspect of the SECURE Act that many commentators failure to note is that it’s mor expensive to file a late Form 5500....more
The SECURE Act: What It Is And What It Is NOT - As part of a large year-end piece of legislation, the provisions known as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Security Act (the “SECURE Act”) were enacted into...more
On December 20, 2019, federal legislation approving spending limits for the 2020 fiscal year was signed into law. Included in the legislation is the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (the...more
As 2019 comes to an end, we are pleased to present our traditional End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. This year, we present our “To Do” Lists in four separate Employee Benefits Updates. Part 1 covered health and welfare...more
When you’re filing that Form 5500, just notice that certain answers may likely lead you to an Internal Revenue Service or Department of Labor audit....more
That Fiduciary Warranty Is Not Worth The Paper it's Printed On. They are pretty much worthless. A 401(k) plan sponsor is also a plan fiduciary and they have the responsibility to prudently run their plan. One major...more
As 2017 comes to an end, we are pleased to present you with our traditional End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” Lists. This year, we are publishing our “To Do” Lists in four separate Employee Benefits Updates. Part 1 covered...more
Editor's Overview - As we have observed on other occasions, the ERISA class action plaintiffs' bar has, for several years now, honed in on 401(k) plan fiduciaries and their decisions to select and retain investment options...more
The IRS announced (through the two announcements 2017-11 and 2017-13) relief for victims of Hurricane Harvey, which struck Texas and surrounding areas in August 2017, and victims of Hurricane Irma, which struck Florida and...more
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) issued temporary relief on deadlines and procedural requirements applicable to employee benefit plans for employers impacted by Hurricane Harvey. ...more