About the Form 5500 Any administrator or sponsor of an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA must file information about each benefit plan every year (pursuant to Code section 6058 and ERISA sections 104 and 4065).
Plans that fall under ERISA include defined benefits and defined contributions plans, 401 plans(k), 413b plans, EPSOPs, or profit-sharing plans. ERISA also covers private health plans such as health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
Qualified plans include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, and Keogh (HR-10) plans. Nonqualified plans include deferred-compensation plans, executive bonus plans, and split-dollar life insurance plans.
All 403(b) plans are subject to Title I of ERISA unless an exemption applies.
In general, retirement plans that are covered by ERISA are protected from creditors—and their lawsuits. A 401(k) is an ERISA-qualified plan, so it is likely protected if you get sued. There may be a few exceptions, such as charges brought by the federal government or if you allegedly wronged the plan.
Anyone who works for a private-sector organization which sponsors retirement benefits such as pension plan or a 401(k) plan (or 403(b) for non-profits) receives an ERISA-governed benefit that becomes vested; i.e., non-forfeitable so long as the employee works for the employer for a sufficient number of years.
Which business types are exempt from Form 5500 filing? Plans that are established or maintained by government entities or churches. Plans that are maintained for the primary purpose of compliance with applicable unemployment, workers' compensation or disability laws.
The Plan ID is a 3-digit number that designates one plan from another for the IRS and DOL. Which number goes to what plan is up to the employer in most cases. In the instructions for Form 5500, the IRS informs us that Plan ID numbers are to begin with 501 for a company's first health & welfare plan.
IRS Form 5500 applies to most public and private sector businesses providing plans to 100 or more participants. It must be filed electronically using the DOL ERISA Filing Acceptance System (EFAST2).
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.