Sections 103 and 104 of ERISA require the Plan Administrator of an employee benefit plan to file an annual report on a Form 5500 series document with the Internal Revenue Service. The report is later transmitted to the Department of Labor (DOL). Regulations issued by the DOL clarify the reporting requirement for different kinds of plans. The chart below sets out these specific details. Filings are due the last day of the seventh month following the plan year end.
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- Type of Plan
- Citation
- 5500
- Audited Financials
- PENSION
- 1.
- Pension Plan with over 100 participants
- 29CFR, 2520.103-1
- Yes
- Yes
- 2.
- Pension Plan with under 100 participants
- 2520.104-41
- 5500 C/R
- No. 2520.104-46
- 3.
- Pension Plan with 80-120 participants
- 2520.103-1(d)
- Yes, file same form as last year
- No, if not in previous year
- 4.
- Insured Plan
- 2520.104-44(2)
2520.103-2
2520.104- 45, -46 - Yes
- No
- 5.
- Bank or insurer financial statements
- 2520.103-8
and -12 - Yes
- Limited scope. May rely on bank/insurance co. audit
- 6.
- Terminated or merged Plan -- short year
- 2520.104-50
- Yes
- Yes. Deferred through day of distribution or transfer
- 7.
- Pension Plan with short year
- 2520.104-50
- Yes
- Yes. Deferred to second year
- 8.
- Pooled funds/common/collective trust
- 2520.103-8
and -12 - Yes
- Limited scope. May rely on bank/insurance co. audit
- 9.
- Master Trust
- 2520.103-8
and -12 - Yes
- Yes -- limited scope
- 10.
- Small single participant Plan (some exemptions available)
- 2520.104-41
- 5500 EZ
- No
- 11.
- SEP
- 2520.104-48
and -49 - No
- No
- 12.
- Top Hat Plans
- 2520.104-23
- No -- file initial statement
- No
- 13.
- Dues-financed Pension Plans
- 2520.104-27
- File LM-1
- No
- Type of Plan
- Citation
- 5500
- Audited Financials
- WELFARE
- 1.
- Welfare Plans with over 100 participants
- 2520.103(1)
- Yes
- Yes
- 2.
- Small Welfare Plans -- under 100 participants at beginning of year
- 2520.104-20
and -46 - No
- No
- 3.
- Plan with benefits paid out of employer assets
- 2520.104-44
- Yes
- No
- 4.
- Plan with benefits exclusively through insurance company or HMO with premiums paid by employer
- 2520.103-2 and
2520.104-43-44(i)
also -45 - Yes
- No
- 5.
- Plan with benefits exclusively through trade association as sponsor/holder of insurance contract
- 2520.104-21
- Yes
- No, if less than 100 participants
- 6.
- Apprenticeship and training plans
- 2520.104-22
- No -- initial notice only
- No
- 7.
- Welfare Plan for certain HCE management employees
- 2520.104-24
- No
- No
- 8.
- Welfare Plan maintained by employee organization funded by dues
- 2520.104-26
- No
- No
- 9.
- Short year -- 7 months or less due to merger, termination, commencement
- 2520.104-50
- Yes
- Deferred
- 10.
- Plan with 80 to 120 participants
- 2520.103-1(d)
- Yes, same as prior year
- No
- 11.
- Cafeteria Plans, §125 Plans with under 100 participants
- No DOL filing requirement; IRS requirement only
- Yes, under IRC 6039D
- No
- 12.
- Cafeteria Plans with 100 or more participants
- 2520.103(1)
- Yes
- Yes, if funded through a trust
- 13.
- Severance Plans, Employee Assistance Plans
- 2520.103
- Yes
- Yes, if funded through a trust
- 14.
- Dependent Care Assistance Plans
- No DOL filing, IRS only
- 6039D
- No