Form 5500 Blanket Extension Unlikely for 2001

(July 11, 2001) - The U.S. Department of Labor is unlikely to grant a blanket extension of time for plans to file the annual Form 5500 information return for the 2000 plan year, according to Brian Graaf, executive director of the American Society of Pension Actuaries, in an email to ASPA members on July 11.

ASPA requested such a blanket extension earlier this year. The chief reason for this request was computer problems and delays associated with DOL's electronic filing program, Graaf said.

Graaf stressed that no final decision has been made by the Department of Labor and that ASPA continues to pursue the matter, but said "senior DOL officials" had indicated to ASPA that an extension is "not likely."

For most calendar year plans, the due date for filing Form 5500 is July 31, 2001.

(The ASPA letter is published at http://www.asppa.org/govpages/ASPAgovt.htm - the link to the text of the letter appears in the item entitled "ASPA is requesting that the Department of Labor provide a blanket extension.")