Go to the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) website and try to locate the company's Form 5500 (the plan's required tax filing). The Form 5500 should have the plan administrator's contact information. Then you can contact the responsible party directly and ask about your retirement account.
The plan number is a three-digit number that is assigned to the plan by the plan administrator or plan sponsor. This three-digit plan number, in conjunction with the employer's nine-digit employer identification number (or EIN), creates a unique 12-digit number that is used by the DOL to identify the plan.
How to Locate a 401(k) From a Previous Job Contact previous employers. It may seem obvious, but one of the quickest ways to track down an old 401(k) plan is to go directly to the source. Review past W-2 tax forms. Check your mail. Search the National Registry. Search Form 5500 Directory. State unclaimed property.
Plans must meet minimum ERISA requirements The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration currently oversees ERISA. Your retirement plan administrator should be able to tell you whether or not your retirement plan qualifies for ERISA.
Check Your Plan Documents: Review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or other documents. ERISA plans must provide an SPD that clearly states they are an ERISA plan. Look at Employer Contributions: If your employer contributes to the plan or matches your contributions, it's likely an ERISA plan.
The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits is a good place to start. By entering your Social Security number, you can quickly see if there are any unclaimed 401(k) funds that belong to you.
Check out your old W-2 tax forms; the forms will list the employer you had a retirement plan with that year. Use the information on your old W-2 to contact your plan sponsor, or old employer, directly to get your account information.
Contact your regional EBSA office to file a complaint or an appeal after exhausting your insurance appeals process. You can also find ERISA information through the U.S. Department of Labor online at .dol/ebsa.
Your IRS/ERISA Plan Number can be found in your Summary Plan Description in section.