The DOL has released advanced copies of the 2011 Form 5500 series.  Plan administrators of employee welfare benefit and pension plans subject to ERISA must file an annual return/report to the DOL on the Form 5500.   The Form 5500s and appropriate schedule information are to be completed and filed electronically via DOL's EFAST2 website (http://www.efast.dol.gov).  The 2011 information-only 5500 forms, schedules and instructions are available from the DOL’s website. 

The 2011 form is substantially the same as the 2010 report, with a couple changes to note:

• The 2011 instructions provide additional explanation of how service providers who manage the filing process can receive signage credentials and authorization to submit the report via EFAST system.
• Schedule I has been updated for purposes of reporting delinquent contributions made by certain small welfare benefit plans covering fewer than 100 participants.

The information contained in this Benefit Beat is not intended to be legal, accounting, or other professional advice, nor are these comments directed to specific situations.

As required by U.S. Treasury rules, we inform you that, unless expressly stated otherwise, any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this Benefit Beat is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service.