As a plan sponsor, you are responsible for ensuring that your plan’s Form 5500’s annual filing is on time. Even if your third-party administrator or someone else files the Form 5500 on your behalf, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that your Form 5500 is filed timely. If your plan requires an audit, make sure that you attach a copy of the audited financial statements to your Form 5500 to ensure your filling is complete.
If your plan year end is December 31st, then the deadline to file is July 31st. If you are unable to file by this date, you can file for an extension for up to two and a half months by filing a Form 5558. This will extend the filing period to October 15th. If your plan is not a calendar year-end, see below to see when your Form 5500 is due.
| Plan-Year End | Filing Deadline | Extension Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1/31 | 8/31 | 11/15 |
| 2/28 | 9/30 | 12/15 |
| 3/31 | 10/31 | 1/15 |
| 4/30 | 11/30 | 2/15 |
| 5/30 | 12/31 | 3/15 |
| 6/30 | 1/31 | 4/15 |
| 7/31 | 2/28 | 5/15 |
| 8/31 | 3/31 | 6/15 |
| 9/30 | 4/30 | 7/15 |
| 10/31 | 5/31 | 8/15 |
| 11/30 | 6/30 | 9/15 |
Filing a Form 5500 is an important requirement for employers offering employee benefit plans. By understanding and adhering to the deadlines, you can avoid penalties and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines. For more information on Employee Benefit Plan Form 5500 filing services, please contact a member of the Employee Benefit Plan team.
For more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team.
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