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Department of LaborDOL

DOL “Request for Clarification” Notices

October 9, 2022September 7th, 2023

Targeting Retirement Plans

DOL "REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION" NOTICESThe Department of Labor’s Office of the Chief Accountant has begun an initiative to detect plan sponsors currently not filing their welfare plan Forms 5500. “Request for Clarification of Your Welfare Benefit Plan Annual Reporting Requirements” emails and letters have started being sent to plan sponsors who filed a Form 5500 for their retirement plan, but did not file for a health and welfare benefit plan. Specifically, we believe the DOL is targeting retirement plans with 100 or more employee participants. Generally, health and welfare benefit plans are required to file a Form 5500 if there are 100 or more employee participants in the plan as of the beginning of the plan year.

The DOL is giving plan sponsors 15 days to respond to the requests. Plan sponsors who find themselves with delinquent filings are encouraged to file using the DOL’s Delinquent Filers Voluntary Compliance (DFVC) Program. To determine if your health and welfare plan is subject to the filing requirements, see our “Welfare Plan Issues and Electronic Filing Information” page or contact one of our 5500 Experts to evaluate your particular situation. We will be ready to assist you in responding to the request and bringing your plans into compliance.

Contact 5500Tax Group to discuss your particular situation.

A Cox-Wabtec

Wabtec has worked with Ann Myers of the 5500Tax Group, Inc. for the past 15 years.  She manages all of the details for our 5500 preparation.  She prepares the 5500s for our Pension Plan, Savings Plan, and various Health and Welfare plans.  She also completes the PCORI filings and Summary Annual Reports.  All is done efficiently, effectively, and reasonably priced.  Ann coordinates with our auditors, record keepers, and our ERISA attorneys to gather all required information and get any answers required.  Definitely recommend!

Briones, Briones International

Amy, Thank you for years of extremely knowledge and professional guidance regarding retirement plans including the filing of form 5500.  You have made the myriad of IRS regulations and alphabet soup understandable for a civilian. I am truly grateful for your patience and never hesitating to answer dumb questions.  Any client seeking your guidance and advice will be beyond pleased with your services.

E Powell-Seubert & Associates, Inc.

Ann at 5500 Tax Group has been a great partner for the past twelve plus years.  We find the process in working with 5500 Tax Group for client Form 5500 filing requirements has been simple, efficient, and timely. Ann has been particularly helpful in guiding mutual clients through the Department of Labor Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) with an easily understood step-by-step explanation for all parties involved. We look forward to working with Ann for many years to come.

S Herrle-Henderson Brothers, Inc.

Ann Myers has been a trusted advisor and our Form 5500 filing partner for well over 15 years.   As leading experts in the Employee Benefits industry with a significant number of local and national clients, we rely heavily on Ann to prepare a large number of health and welfare 5500 forms every year for our clients.   Regardless of whether she is providing guidance for a client that is filing for the first time, suggesting changes on what should be reported in a 5500 form, providing strategy to remedy a noncompliant plan, or walking an employer through the DFVCP filing process, we know our clients are receiving the best advice from one of the most knowledgeable experts in the industry.

M Fair-USI Insurance Services

Our team has worked with Ann Myers and the 5500 Tax Group for many years. Ann makes the whole 5500 process as painless as possible and personally engages with each client. We have continued to use Ann for the “personal” touch and level of details that Ann brings to her work. Our team has 100% confidence in Ann executing on filings, details and deadline. Ann brings a positive attitude, years of experience and her expertise to every engagement. Our client and team enjoy working with Ann and USI would absolutely serve as a reference.

W Wang-L&W Infoserve Co.

In June 2022, we received IRS notices with huge penalties (~$200K) as they didn’t receive F5500 – Annual Report of Employee Benefit Plan for 2019 and 2020 for our S Corporation.  We immediately started working with Amy Boyd from 5500 Tax Group.  Amy answered our questions with great patience, provided clear guidance and took appropriate actions on communicating with IRS.  With a lot of time and effort, she helped us resolve this issue that gave us so much stress.  We are grateful for her assistance and highly recommend her services.  She is professional, efficient, and friendly.