The Department of Labor (DOL), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation jointly developed the Form 5500 as a tool for employee benefit plan sponsors to complete and fulfill their annual reporting requirement under Title I and Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and under the Internal Revenue Code. The preparation of the Form 5500 involves the gathering and compiling of information from many sources, and it involves the submission of numerous schedules, such as the enhanced fee disclosures on the Schedule C, and related forms such as the Form 8955-SSA.
Form 5500 is also an important research tool. Federal agencies, Congress, and the private sector use the data to assess employee benefits, economic trends, and policies. We prepare hundreds of 5500s every year. We offer coordinated Form 8955-SSA services to all retirement plan Form 5500 clients, including preparation of the returns and/or working with plan actuaries or TPAs to ensure returns are timely and accurately filed.