Mandatory E-Filing of Form 5500: Are You Ready?

Mastering the New EFAST2 Procedures and Rules

Recording of a 110-minute CPE webinar with Q&A

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Conducted on Thursday, December 3, 2009

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Course Materials

This seminar will prepare benefit plan administrators and their accounting advisory firms for next year's new Form 5500 e-filing mandate. The panel will outline detailed steps for handling each step of the e-filing process from registration through actual filing.

Description

Effective with plan years starting Jan. 1, 2009 and after, e-filing will be mandatory for the annual Form 5500 with the U.S. Labor Department. The first Form 5500s will be e-filed under the EFAST2 mandate starting March 31, 2010.

Benefit plan administrators and their advisors have much to learn before EFAST2 registration begins Jan. 2, 2010, and for the subsequent 5500 e-filing. Plans must choose among three software options, and advisors cannot obtain signature authority for their clients.

Administrators and advisors must continue to resolve confusion and learn all new processes over the next few months: completing the forms on-screen, adding forms and attachments, associating a signer, submitting returns one at a time, and viewing submitted filings.

Listen as our panel of experienced employee benefits consultants analyzes the requirements for EFAST2 and prepares advisors and administrators for a smooth transition to e-filing.

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Outline

  1. Background on Form 5500 e-filing
    1. FAST1 optional e-filing process
    2. EFAST2 mandate replaces EFAST1 effective with plan years starting on or after Jan. 1, 2009
      1. Requirement for retirement and welfare plans
      2. E-filing not available for Form 5500-EZ
      3. Also applies to 403(b) plans not subject to Title I of ERISA
      4. Plans with Form 5500 due dates before Jan. 1, 2010 automatically get filing extensions
        1. Until 90 days after form first becomes available for e-filing (i.e. March 31, 2010)
  2. E-filing software options
    1. Private Web-based
    2. Third-party software provider
    3. Labor Department Web-based
    4. Advantages, disadvantages for each
  3. EFAST2 registration process
    1. Starts Jan. 2, 2010
    2. Signers also have to register
    3. Advisors can’t get signature authority for clients
  4. Steps for e-filing, in detail
    1. Completing screens
    2. Associating signer
    3. Submitting form and attachments
    4. Reviewing filings

Benefits

The panel will fully explain the workings of each stage of the new EFAST2 e-filing process for Form 5500 including:

  • Evaluating the e-filing software options: Private web-based, third-party software and Labor Department web-based.
  • Getting ready for EFAST2 registration: The timetable and the processes.
  • Grasping the actual e-filing process: What you'll do during each step.

Faculty

Kristina Kananen
Kristina Kananen
Customer Service Director
DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems

She has worked with the employee benefit software and services company since 2000 and has helped prepare the company...  |  Read More

Holly Roussel-Godfrey
Holly Roussel-Godfrey
Marketing Director
Fort William

She has worked at the company, which specializes in document and forms software for employee benefits professionals,...  |  Read More

Debbie Mettenleiter
Debbie Mettenleiter
Marketing Director
Atessa Benefits

She manages the benefits consulting and administration firm's Compliance Department and oversees its preparation of...  |  Read More

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