The 401(k) Form 5500 FAQ
Form 5500 is the annual ERISA filing for most 401(k) and other employee benefit plans. This FAQ covers which version to file, whether you need an independent audit, the deadline and late-penalty rules, and how to read a real filing — then look one up free.
Last updated October 9, 2026
What is Form 5500?
Form 5500 is the annual return/report that most U.S. employers who sponsor an ERISA retirement or welfare plan must file with the Department of Labor, the IRS, and (for covered pensions) the PBGC. It reports the plan's financial condition, participant counts, service providers, and — for large plans — an independent auditor's report.
The filing is public. Anyone can look up a company's 401(k): assets, fees, the recordkeeper, and who signed. Start with a Form 5500 search or the longer what Form 5500 is guide.
Which version of Form 5500 does a 401(k) file?
The version follows plan size and structure — not the employer's preference:
- Form 5500 (long form) — generally 100 or more participants at the start of the plan year. Attaches schedules (H, C, R, and others as applicable) and usually an independent audit.
- [Form 5500-SF](/guides/form-5500-sf) (short form) — most plans with fewer than 100 participants that hold readily valued assets (mutual funds, bank/insurer accounts) and meet the small-plan audit waiver. No Schedule C, so service providers are not publicly named.
- Form 5500-EZ — one-participant (owner-only, or owner and spouse) plans. Filing is required once assets exceed $250,000. EZ filings go to the IRS and are not in the public EFAST2 dataset.
Search by company name or EIN. Each plan page shows the form (5500 vs 5500-SF), participant count, and whether an auditor was named.
Look up a planWhen does a 401(k) need an independent audit?
A 401(k) generally needs an Independent Qualified Public Accountant (IQPA) audit when it is a large plan — about 100 or more participants with an account balance at the beginning of the plan year (the count used for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2023). The auditor's report attaches to the Form 5500.
Two buffers matter. The 80-120 rule lets a plan that filed last year keep the same large/small category if this year's count is between 80 and 120 — so a growing plan can stay unaudited until it exceeds 120. The small-plan audit waiver can exempt some otherwise-large plans if at least 95% of assets are qualifying (or the shortfall is bonded).
This is a CPA audit of the plan's financial statements, not a software review of the public filing. See 401(k) audit requirements and employee benefit plan audits for the full mechanics.
What schedules attach to Form 5500?
| Schedule | What it reports | Large plans | Small plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — Insurance | Insurance contracts and commissions | If insurance | If insurance |
| C — Service providers | Anyone paid $5,000+ (direct or indirect) | Yes | No (SF has no Schedule C) |
| D — DFE participation | Master trusts, CITs, 103-12 IEs, PSAs | If applicable | If applicable |
| G — Financial schedules | Defaulted loans, non-exempt transactions, fraud losses | If applicable | No |
| H — Financials | Full assets, liabilities, income, expenses | Yes | No |
| I — Financials (short) | Scaled-down financial snapshot | No | Yes (or SF lines) |
| R — Pension | Distributions, funding, RMDs | Yes | Yes |
| IQPA audit | Independent accountant's report | Usually required | Not required if waiver applies |
When is Form 5500 due?
The deadline is the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. For a calendar-year 401(k) that is July 31. File IRS Form 5558 before that date for an automatic 2½-month extension (October 15 for a calendar plan).
Missing the deadline can trigger separate IRS and DOL penalties. The DOL's Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) is the usual way to catch up at a reduced penalty. After filing, the sponsor must also send participants a summary annual report (SAR) — generally within nine months after plan year-end, or two months after an extended filing deadline.
Work out a specific plan year with the Form 5500 deadline calculator, or read the due-date guide.
How do you file Form 5500?
Form 5500 and 5500-SF must be filed electronically through the DOL's EFAST2 system (IFILE or an approved third-party software). Most 401(k) recordkeepers or TPAs prepare the return; the plan administrator (usually the employer) remains legally responsible for a complete, on-time filing.
Large plans typically also need the IQPA audit packaged with the return, which is why many administrators file the Form 5558 extension as a matter of course.
Real 401(k) Form 5500 filings
Open any 401(k) to see the form it filed, participant count, assets, named auditor, and Schedule C providers — the same public record this FAQ describes.
| Plan / sponsor | Assets | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| WALMART INC. WALMART 401(K) PLAN · AR | $50.8B | 1,670,732 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES, LLC AMAZON 401(K) PLAN · WA | $34.6B | 1,207,759 |
| PAYCHEX RETIREMENT LLC PAYCHEX POOLED EMPLOYER 401(K) PLAN · NY | $1.8B | 621,703 |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TEAMSTERS - UPS 401K NATIONAL SAVINGS PLAN THE TEAMSTER - UPS NATIONAL 401(K) TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN · GA | $19.3B | 451,512 |
| TARGET CORPORATION TARGET CORPORATION 401(K) PLAN · MN | $14.4B | 427,999 |
| EXPRESS SERVICES, INC. EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN · OK | $2.5M | 400,408 |
| THE HOME DEPOT, INC. THE HOME DEPOT FUTUREBUILDER · GA | $14.1B | 391,522 |
| THE KROGER CO. THE KROGER CO. 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACCOUNT PLAN · OH | $11.8B | 380,891 |
| CVS HEALTH CORPORATION CVS HEALTH FUTURE FUND 401(K) PLAN · RI | $30.1B | 313,966 |
| HCA INC. HCA 401(K) PLAN · TN | $23.8B | 310,762 |
Frequently asked questions
Form 5500 is the annual ERISA report most 401(k) and other employee benefit plans file with the DOL, IRS, and PBGC. It discloses the plan's finances, participants, service providers, and — for large plans — an independent audit.
Large plans (generally 100+ participants) file the full Form 5500 with schedules and usually an audit. Most small plans file Form 5500-SF. Owner-only plans file Form 5500-EZ once assets exceed $250,000.
When it is a large plan — about 100 or more participants with an account balance at the start of the plan year — unless the 80-120 rule or the small-plan audit waiver applies. The audit is performed by a licensed CPA (IQPA) and attaches to the Form 5500.
If a plan has 80–120 participants at the start of the year and filed the prior year, it may file in the same large/small category as before. A plan that filed as small last year can stay unaudited until it exceeds 120 participants.
The last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends — July 31 for a calendar-year plan. IRS Form 5558 filed on time extends that by 2½ months (October 15 for a calendar plan).
The IRS and DOL can assess separate per-day penalties. The DOL's Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) is the usual way to file late returns at a reduced penalty.
Yes. Form 5500 and 5500-SF filings accepted through EFAST2 are public record. Form 5500-EZ is filed with the IRS and is not in the public dataset.
The plan administrator — usually the employer, named on line 3a. A recordkeeper or TPA often prepares the return, but legal responsibility stays with the administrator.
Search by company name, EIN, or plan name. This site covers roughly 2.9 million public filings (2022–2024) with no login. The official DOL EFAST2 search is also free.
Related guides
- What Is Form 5500?
- Who Must File Form 5500 (and Who Is Exempt)?
- Form 5500 Due Date 2026 — Deadlines, Extensions & Penalties
- 401(k) Audit Requirements: When Your Plan Needs an Independent Audit
- Employee Benefit Plan Audit: When ERISA Requires an Independent Audit
- Form 5500-SF Explained: Who Files the Short Form
- Form 5500 Instructions — How to Fill Out & File (2026)
- Form 5500 Lookup & Search — Find Any Plan's Filing Free