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Compliance December 4, 2012
Informational Form 5500s Released
Regulators
released advance informational copies of the 2012 Form 5500 annual
return/report and related instructions.
Reported by PLANADVISER staff
The advance copies issued by the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) are for informational purposes only and cannot be used to file a 2012 Form 5500 annual return/report.
Modifications to the Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF for plan year 2012 are described under “Changes to Note” in the 2012 instructions, including:
- Optional Paid Preparer Information. The Form 5500, Form 5500-SF and instructions have been updated to include optional preparer’s information. Filers may optionally enter the preparer’s name and address. Although the preparer information is optional at this time, the IRS encourages filers to provide preparer information on the new lines.
- Optional Trust Information. The forms and instructions have been updated to include optional trust information in Schedule H and Schedule I. Filers may optionally enter the trust’s name and trust EIN. Although this trust information is optional, the IRS encourages filers to provide such information on the new lines.
- Multiemployer Actuarial Information. Reporting has been clarified for changes in adjustable benefits and for amortization charges under the funding standard account statement for this plan year.
- Schedule SB Instructions. The instructions have been updated to advise that additional detail is requested for the prior year’s excess contributions to be added to the prefunding balance. Single-employer defined benefit (DB) pension plan filers are cautioned in the Schedule SB instructions that they must see IRS Notice 2012-61 for guidance on how to complete the 2012 Schedule SB in accordance with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Pub. L. No.112-141 (July 6, 2012).
Informational copies of the forms, schedules and instructions are available online at www.efast.dol.gov. Filers should monitor the EFAST website for the availability of the official electronic versions for filing using EFAST-approved software or directly through the EFAST website. Assistance with the EFAST2 system is available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/form5500tips.html or by calling 1-866-463-3278.