5500 E-file: Reviewing Attachments

Any information that cannot be contained on the 5500 series forms and schedules may be submitted as an unstructured attachment on EFAST2. Acceptable formats vary by attachment type:

  • Accountant’s Opinion and Signed MB or SB: The report of the Independent Qualified Public Accountant (IQPA) and image of the signed Schedule MB or SB must be attached as a PDF file.
  • Other Attachments: Other attachments may be either a PDF file or an ASCII Text file. No other file formats are accepted.

PDF Attachments

  1. On the Organizer tab, select E-file > Attachments > PDF Attachments > Summary.

  2. Click the Attach PDF button.
  3. Enter the description of the PDF file(s).
  4. Enter the file name(s) of the PDF file(s). When attaching the PDFs, use the predefined titles from the PDF Attachment dialog if possible.

Third Party XML Attachments

Actuarial schedules created using third-party software can be included as part of the complete e-filed return. This process takes the parts of the XML file containing the actuarial schedules and merges them into the final XML file that is e-filed.

  1. On the Organizer tab, select E-file > Third Party E-file > Third Party XML E-file.

  2. The information displayed in the XML File Name from Third-Party Software field shows the XML attachment information AFTER the XML files have been attached. See the instructions below for details on how to add, edit, and delete XML attachments through the Edit > Insert > Attachments menu.

    Name the XML without spaces and special characters to avoid validation and reject errors.
  3. Select the schedule being merged: Schedule MB or Schedule SB.

  4. Add the PDF attachments, if applicable, using the steps below. Merging third-party XML files DOES NOT include PDF attachments that may have been included by the third-party software. If applicable, PDF files must be attached through Edit > Insert > EFile Attachments.
  5. Select the option to indicate that PDF files, if applicable, have been attached for the actuarial schedule merged from third-party XML files.

Selecting Binary Attachments for the E-file

  1. Select Edit > Insert > EFile Attachments.
  2. Select the Add button to add a new attachment.
  3. Navigate to where your file is saved, highlight the filename, and click Open.
  4. Select a jurisdiction for the attachment: IRS predefined description or used-defined description.
    • The attachment file selected field will automatically show the file name. Note that the default attachment is a PDF file.
    • The IRS predefined description field will display a list of descriptions predefined by the DOL. Select the description that best describes your attachment. If none of these predefined descriptions apply, choose the User defined description and name the file.
  5. Click Finish.

    Certain return diagnostics are tied to the attachment names. Be sure to use predefined attachment names if they apply.

  6. To delete attachments, in the E-file Attachment window, select the Delete button.
  7. When all attachments are added, edited, or deleted, select Done.

 

 

 

E-file/5500_ef_4.htm/TY2020

Last Modified: 02/17/2020

Last System Build: 09/13/2021

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