U.S. Department of Labor sponsors free February 19 webcast on 2009 Form 5500 and electronic filing

Release Date: February 9, 2009
Release Number: 09-130-NAT
Contact Name: Gloria Della
Phone Number: 202.693.8666

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host its first of a series of free webcasts on February 19 from noon to 2 p.m. EST to help employers and service providers prepare for changes in the requirements of the 2009 Form 5500 reports and a preview of the new electronic filing Web site.

This webcast will cover the new simplified annual reporting form for small plans with easy to value investments; expanded reporting by large plans of compensation received by plan service providers; realignment of the reporting rules for Internal Revenue Code section 403(b) pension plans subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to make them on par with 401(k) plans; and annual reporting changes required by the Pension Protection Act or defined benefit pension plans and multiemployer plans.

The modernized version of the ERISA Filing Acceptance System – known as EFAST2 – will receive only electronic filing submissions, provide quick responses in the event there are errors in a filing and publicly disclose filed Form 5500 reports through the EFAST Web site. The seminars are part of EBSA’s fiduciary education campaign to help workers and employers, especially small businesses, understand their rights and obligations under employee benefit laws.

Additional webcasts and educational material will be made available throughout the year.

Who:	Employers, plan fiduciaries and providers of plan services
What:	Webcast on Form 5500 and electronic filing
When:	February 19, Noon to 2 p.m. EST
How:	Online registration is first-come, first-served, by visiting www.dol.gov/ebsa and clicking the appropriate link under “Compliance Assistance Workshops, Seminars and Webcasts.” For more information, contact Patricia Humphlett at 202.693.8660.

U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Department's Newsroom page. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202.693.7828 or TTY 202.693.7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit the Department's Compliance Assistance page.