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Atlanta, Georgia - In the wake of destruction in
Florida from Hurricane Wilma, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of
the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500-EZ annual report/returns.
President Bush has declared a major disaster in 20
counties in the state due to the damage caused by the hurricane. The
extension applies to plan administrators, employers and other entities
located in areas directly affected, as identified by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). The extension also applies to firms located
outside the affected areas who are unable to obtain the necessary
information from service providers, banks or insurance companies whose
operations were directly affected by the hurricane.
If the president declares additional counties eligible
for individual assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, this extension will also apply to them.
Under this relief, Form 5500 series filings required to
be submitted between October 23, 2005 and Feb. 28, 2006, are granted an
extension until February 28, 2006. Plan filers entitled to an extension of
relief should check Part I, Box D, on the Form 5500 or Part 1 on Form
5500-EZ and attach a statement to the form in accordance with the
instructions.
For more information about disaster relief, contact the
Federal Emergency Management Agency at 1.800.621.3362 or 202.621.FEMA or
the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov under “Disaster Area Tax
Relief. Filers who have additional questions may contact the EBSA’s
EFAST Help Line at 1.866.463.3278. |
