Reporting and Filing

ERISA Reporting Forms 5500/5500 EZ – The Form 5500 Series is part of ERISA's reporting and disclosure framework, which is intended to assure that employee benefit plans are operated and managed in accordance with prescribed standards.

The Form PR is used to report information for a person or entity that intends to serve as a pooled plan provider to pooled employer plans within the meaning of section 3(43) and 3(44) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and section 413(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Form M-1 Online Filing System is an electronic filing system for the Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements. The system allows filers to complete the form and submit it at no cost. This system is an example of an E-Government initiative which uses improved technology to make it easier for citizens and businesses to interact with the government.

• Final Rule

• Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notice E-file

• Top Hat Plan Statement E-file

Form 5500/Form 5500-SF Filing Search

This search engine identifies Form 5500 and 5500-SF filings received by EFAST2. Filings for plan years prior to 2009 are not displayed through this website. This website provides the forms, schedules, and attachments submitted by the filer. Posting this information on the website does not constitute acceptance of the filing by the Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or the Internal Revenue Service. You can view one plan filing at a time through this search engine based on the search criteria listed below. If you would like the raw data from all filings, including schedules, you can download Form 5500 datasets from EBSA's electronic FOIA webpage. If you are unable to find a filing that you believe has been submitted, please contact the EFAST2 Help Line at 1-866-463-3278. For help searching for filings through this website, see the EFAST2 Filing Search Guide.

• Form 5500/Form 5500-SF Search

The expanded Form 5500 search tool is also for filings with the Department since January 2010.  In addition to searching for specific filings, user can search for filings using filters including: plan type, plan asset value, number of participants, employer plan types, business codes, form years, and locations. The number of search results generated increased to 5,000 filings. Users may export search results to a CSV file.

• Expanded Form 5500 Search

Form PR Filing Search

This search tool retrieves publicly available Form PR filings. Posting this information on the web site does not constitute acceptance of the filing by the Federal Government. Some filings may not be displayed through this website, such as original filings that were amended. If you are unable to find a filing that you believe has been submitted, please contact the EFAST2 Help Line at 1-866-463-3278.

• Form PR Filing Search

Form M-1 Search

The Form M-1 Online Search tool allows users to find reports for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) and Association Health Plans (AHPs) filed with the Department of Labor.  The Form M-1 is filed annually by MEWAs, (including AHPs) and ECEs (Entities Claiming Exception).  Copies of the Form M-1 filings are also available from EBSA's Public Disclosure Room at 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-1515, Washington, DC 20210, or by calling (202) 693-8673.

• Instructions for the Form M-1 Search

• Form M-1 Search

Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notices and Top Hat Plan Statements Searches

These two online search tools allow users to search and view Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notices or Top Hat Plan Statements for certain pension plans maintained by an employer for a select group or management or highly compensated employees filed with the Department of Labor.   Results can be printed or downloaded to Excel.  If you are unable to find a filing that you believe has been submitted, please contact Public Disclosure at telephone 202-693-8673 (not a toll-free number).

Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notices Search

• Instructions to the Apprentice and Training Plan Notices Search

• Search for Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notices

Top Hat Plan Statements Search

• Instructions to the Top Hat Statements Search

• Search for Top Hat Statements

Form 5500 Improvement and Modernization Proposal

• Proposed Revision of Annual Information Return/Reports

• Proposed Rules - Annual Reporting and Disclosure

• Technical Appendix

• Fact Sheet

• News Release

Revisions to Annual Return/Report – Multiple-Employer Plans

• Interim Final Rule

• Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request

Electronic Filing of Notices for Apprenticeship and Training Plans and Top Hat Plan Statements

• Final Rule

• Proposed Rule

• Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notice E-File

• Top Hat Plan Statement E-File

2009 Form 5500 Revision

• Final Rule – Annual Reporting and Disclosure – The final rules conform the Department's annual reporting regulations to the changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report.

• Notice of Adoption of Forms Revisions – The Notice of Adoption of Forms Revisions describes changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report for reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, including a new Short Form 5500 (5500-SF) for eligible plans. Filers are cautioned that the forms appearing in the Federal Register are for information purposes only and cannot be used for filing. Filers should monitor the EFAST Website for information on approved software vendors for completing the 2008 and later forms and on the availability of the official government-printed forms.

• Technical Appendix – Providing supporting documentation for the Regulatory Impact Analysis included in the Final Rule - Annual Reporting and Disclosure.

Final Rule On Electronic Filing

• Final Rule – Electronic Filing of Annual Reports – The Final Rule establishes an electronic filing requirement for the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report. The electronic filing requirement was deferred from reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, to reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2009 by the Final Rule above under 2009 Form 5500 Revision.

• Civil Monetary Penalty Procedures Cross-Reference Changes – ERISA authorizes the Secretary of Labor to assess civil monetary penalties for certain statutory violations and to make certain other determinations. EBSA regulations specify the Department's procedures for such actions.

• 2009 Form 5500 Schedule C FAQs – The purpose of these FAQs is to provide guidance to plan administrators and service providers on complying with the requirements of the 2009 Form 5500 Schedule C

• Supplemental FAQs About The 2009 Schedule C – Provide further guidance in response to additional questions from plans and service providers on the requirements for reporting service provider fees and other compensation on the Schedule C

• Information letter on whether, in the context of a collectively bargained multiemployer plan, plan expenses paid by a contributing employer and not reimbursed by the plan are required to be reported on the Schedule C (Service Provider Information) of the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan (Form 5500).

• PBGC guidance on Reporting PBGC Premium Payments Made from Plan Assets on Schedule H

• PBGC Guidance on Schedule R Instructions to Line 14 (Form 5500)

• Reporting and Coverage for 403(b) Plans

• Reporting Delinquent Participant Contributions on the Form 5500 – FAQs that provide guidance to plan administrators and accountants on complying with the requirements of the Form 5500 for reporting delinquent participant contributions

• EFAST2 Form 5500 and Form 5500–SF Filing Tips – Practical, common sense tips for some of the most frequently occurring Form 5500 filing problems

• FAQs On The Small Pension Plan Audit Waiver Regulation – Questions on how to determine whether a small plan has met the conditions for the audit waiver requirements under the amended regulation

• EFAST2 Automated 5500 Forms Processing – Information about the computerized system that streamlines filing and processing of Form 5500

• Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program – A program that reduces the monetary penalties for employee benefit plan administrators to encourage voluntary compliance

  • Fact Sheet

  • FAQs

  • Penalty Calculator and Online Payment

• Form for Summary Annual Report relating to pension plans for plan years beginning in 2023 and later

• Form for Summary Annual Report relating to welfare plans for plan years beginning in 2023 and later

• Form for Summary Annual Report Relating to Pension Plans for plan years beginning in 2022 and earlier

• Form for Summary Annual Report Relating to Welfare Plans for plan years beginning in 2022 and earlier

• Model Summary Annual Report Notice – IQPA Audit Waiver

• Form 5500 Version Selection Tool – With the change to an all electronic filing system and changes to the Form 5500 as well, you may have questions about what to file for plan years prior to the current year or how to amend prior year filings. This tool will help you to determine which version of the Form 5500 and which schedules you should use.

• Reporting And Disclosure Guide For Employee Benefit Plans – A quick reference tool for certain basic reporting and disclosure requirements under ERISA

• Selecting An Auditor For Your Employee Benefit Plan – Federal law requires employee benefit plans with 100 or more participants to have an audit as part of their obligation to file the Form 5500. This booklet will assist plan administrators in selecting an auditor and reviewing the audit work and report.

• Troubleshooters Guide to Filing the ERISA Annual Report