The basics of Form 5500 company search and its place in your business is sometimes overlooked.

The Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit and Guaranty Corporation and Internal Revenue service in cooperation developed Form 5500 Series. This form could be used by the Employee Benefit Plans to satisfy the yearly reporting necessity under ERISA’s Title I and IV and under the Internal Revenue Code. This form is a significant compliance, disclosure and research tool for the Department of the Labor, source of information as well as a disclosure file for beneficiaries and plan participants and information utilized by other Federal Agencies.


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What is Form 5500 Series?

The form 5500 series is an overall reporting and disclosure system of Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) that is designed to guarantee that employees benefits are managed and operated in accordance with particular prescribed standards and the beneficiaries, participants and regulators are provided or have free access to right information in order to protect the benefits and rights of beneficiaries and participants under employee benefits plan.

Purpose of Form 5500

The main purpose of Form 5500 is the yearly reporting for particular welfare and pension benefit plans and it contains all information about an investment, operations, and financial condition’s plan. This form is co-sponsored by IRS, DOL and Pension Benefits Guarantee Corporation.

What about PBGC or IRS?

As we’ve mentioned above that the Form 5500 was made by PBGC, IRS and DOL together. The form filed with the DOL will accomplish the requirements of IRS to file a yearly information return. All the plans under PBGC defined benefit plans and can have extra filling needs with the PBGC.

Who can fill Form 5500 series?

All companies with 401 (k) plan or pension plan must file the annual report with the Internet Revenue Service, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and the Department of Labor. Companies that have more than 100 employees and also offer health plans must file Form 5500 welfare schedule.

In numerous cases, there are many things to do and little time to execute that. Accomplishing all your needs related to form 5500 company search in a particular area. As the rule and regulations keep on changing, completing the important documentation in a precise way and on time has become quite difficult to manage. For many companies, taking the whole process off and knowing it will be managed and handled properly is a big relief. It enables companies to use existing internal resources for other important projects.

What is in Form 550 Company Search?

The form 5500 has a main form with different attachments and schedules. Normally, this form must represent the operations and the characteristics of the plan. The major part of the Form 5500 consists of two long pages and information requests of the plan such as date, name, plan administrator information, plan sponsor information, and a breakout of participants involved at the actual end of the financial year.

Review of Quality Assurance

Reviewing Form 5500 filings for completion and accuracy is not as easy as it seems. Perhaps, small details make a huge difference. After filling the forms, these are reviewed to make sure that it reflects the welfare plan, funding arrangements and offering of the sponsor appropriately. The content of the forms will also be reviewed to verify if the filing is completed with DOL guidelines and instructions.

Welfare Plan Form 5500 Preparation

In form 5500 preparation, you can’t fill the form with guesswork. The preparing process of form 5500 filing starts by identifying for the actual plan sponsor for all sort of important and crucial information related to the benefit of the plan as well as of funding arrangements of what data may be needed from other parties. The second step is to complete the filling with all needed schedules and has the review of the client along with approval of hard copy. There is a simple process of preparing electronic returns facilitating with submitting forms and electronic signature and submitting forms by using a right and approved software. After the approval of the form, it will be submitted to the DOL for processing. If in case, the filling needed extra action or DOL does not approve the request, the company carried out the important research and resolves the matter as soon as possible.

It is important for companies to file electronically within seven months from the actual end of the plan year. You can use Form 5500 version that reflects the starting date of the particular plan.


Contact Benefits Compliance Consulting Inc. if you have any questions or need assistance with Form 5500 company search or preparation.

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