DOL FORM 5500 SIGNING CREDENTIALS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING THE MANDATORY FORM 5500  SIGNING CREDENTIALS AT THE DOL WEBSITE

Beginning on 01/01/2010 The Department of Labor (DOL) is requiring that all 5500 filings be electronically filed and signed (known as "EFAST 2"). For the first filing year under EFAST 2, (which would be the 2009 Plan Year) signers must register for filing credentials at the DOL website. Below are instructions for how to obtain filing credentials with the DOL.

Once this process is complete, you can continue to use the UserID and PIN provided by the DOL in future years. If a different person signs the 5500 filing in a future year, that person will have to register with the DOL signing credentials at that time. In addition, more than one person may obtain credentials to sign a 5500 form if more than one person may actually sign the filing.

FORM 5500 SIGNER CREDENTIAL PROCEDURES

There are several steps to registering at the DOL website. You may want to use a  Printer Friendly Copy of these instructions during registration. We suggest that you set aside approximately 15 minutes to complete the process. However, please keep in mind that it may take more than 15 minutes as there are several steps in the process. Please also note that the DOL may change the registration process - these are the steps as we currently understand them.

  1. Go to the Department Of Labor website and either (1) in the middle of the screen under the heading "People are Asking...." select the second item titled "Registration for signing, preparing or transmitting the Form 5500/500-SF" or (2)  select the link Register on the left hand side under the heading "Main". Either of these links will take you to the next screen.

     

  2. You will be asked to read and sign a privacy statement.

    To read the contents of the privacy statement, click here.

     

  3. Complete your profile. You will be taken to a screen where you will be required to complete information that will serve as your profile (name, address, email and user type).

     

    User Type:

     

    • Filing Signer. This user type provides signature authority and is the only authority you need. The other categories are used by the form preparers.

     

     

  4. Challenge question. Once your profile information is complete, you will be asked to select a challenge question and answer. This is required and will be used to obtain your UserID and PIN in step 8.

     

     

  5. Confirm your profile. You will be taken to a "Register - Summary" screen where you will be given the opportunity to review/edit your profile information, challenge question and confirm this information. Click "Submit" to continue.

     

  6. Success. If you have provided valid profile information, you will be taken to a "Register - Confirmation" screen where you will be instructed to check your email to complete the registration process.

     

  7. Confirm email. Check your email and click on the link provided in the email.

     

     

  8. Answer your Challenge Question. After accessing the DOL site via the link provided in your email, you will be asked the challenge question you set up earlier in the process.

     

  9. PIN agreement. You will then be asked to sign a PIN Agreement whereby you will agree not to share the PIN that is assigned to you.

     

     

    		  

     

     

  10. Signature Agreement. You will then be asked to agree to a more detailed "Signature Agreement".

     

     

    		  

     

     

  11. UserID and PIN. You will then be provided a UserID and PIN. We strongly suggest printing this page for your records.

     

     

  12. Password. The last step in the process is to create a password that will be assigned to the UserID and PIN that you were just provided. We suggest making a note of the password that you enter for your records. The password can be used with your UserID to obtain your PIN and/or log in to the DOL website in the future to change any profile information if necessary.

     

     

  13. Confirmation. Once you reach the Register Confirmation page, you have completed the registration process. You can now use your UserID and PIN to electronically sign a 5500 form. We will inform you when and how to sign the forms when they are ready.