5500 E-file: Signing Filings

All Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ filings must be signed electronically in EFAST2.

Each signer is assigned two identifiers by EFAST2: a PIN and a User ID. Together, the PIN and the User ID act as the user’s signature on the electronic filing.

There are two principal advantages to using a PIN and a User ID to sign filings:

Greater security: Only the user and authorized government personnel have access to the PIN and User ID.
Less paperwork: The transmitter’s responsibility to send paper forms, schedules, and attachments to the DOL is eliminated, thus making the filing completely electronic.

There may be as few as one or as many as four signatures for one filing: Plan Administrator, Employer/Plan Sponsor, authorized service provider for E-Signature, and/or Direct Filing Entities (DFE). Form 5500-SF filings must have a signature from either the Plan Administrator and/or the Employer/Plan Sponsor or authorized service provider.

If a service provider manages the Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ filing process for your plan, the service provider may get his or her own EFAST2 Signer credentials and electronically sign the filing. The service provider must attest (must have specific written authorization from the plan administrator) that he or she is authorized to submit the return/report and has attached a PDF copy of the plan’s Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ that has been manually signed and dated by the plan administrator under penalty of perjury.

By using the PIN and User ID as an electronic signature, the Filing Signer certifies that the required signatures are on all the applicable filing components, including Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ (plan administrator, employer/plan sponsor, plan and signer for DFE, as appropriate), the Accountant’s Opinion (attached as a signed PDF), and signed Schedule MB/SB (completed electronically and attached as a PDF to show the actuary's signature) (also attached as a signed PDF).

Upon signing the filing, filing preparation software (either IFILE or EFAST2-approved third party software) shall apply the signer’s e-file credentials (User ID and PIN), name, and date to the annual return/report file and the name and date to Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ.

When we receive your submission, if you do not have valid signature IDs, the return will not be sent to DOL. It will be automatically rejected with Reject code 9950 before submitting to the government.

Signatures signify verification and certification. No changes to signed filings are allowed. Filings that have not been submitted may have signatures removed to allow editing. Submitted and accepted filings require the submission of an amendment to make modifications.

E-file/5500_ef_signing_filings.htm/TY2020

Last Modified: 12/16/2020

Last System Build: 09/13/2021