January 22, 2020
The IRS recently released the 2019 Form 5500-EZ. As background, Form 5500-EZ is an annual filing requirement for retirement plans that are either a one-participant plan or a foreign plan. Specifically, Form 5500-EZ is used by one-participant plans that are not subject to the requirements of IRC Section 104(a) and that are not eligible or choose not to electronically file Form 5500-SF, Short Form Annual Return/Report of Small Employee Benefit Plan, to satisfy certain annual reporting and filing obligations imposed by the Code.
The IRS does not appear to have made any significant changes to this year’s form or instructions. While many employers outsource the preparation and filing of this form, employers should also familiarize themselves with the form’s requirements and work closely with outside vendors to collect the necessary information.
Applicable plan sponsors must file a Form 5500-EZ on or before the last day of the seventh month after their plan year ends. As a result, calendar-year plans generally must file by July 31 of this year (reporting for the 2019 plan year). Plans may request a two-and-a-half month filing extension by submitting a Form 5558, Application for Extension of Time to File Certain Employee Plan Returns, by the plan’s original due date.
2019 Form 5500-EZ »