How long does the IRS take for a determination on a Form 5307 application?

[Peter Gulia]

In mid-September 2015, a lawyer received a form letter confirming that the IRS had received her client's application, on Form 5307, for a determination. (The plan has modest variations from an approved volume-submitter document.)

The IRS's letter states: "You may normally expect to hear from us within 145 days."

Is 145 days normal or realistic?

Now that more than 200 days has elapsed (without any further communication), should the lawyer contact the IRS? Or should the lawyer wait until something more like a year has elapsed?

I'd appreciate your sharing of experiences and suggestions.

[GMK]

"days" may mean government business days, which could push it well past 200 calendar days.

I generally figured on 2 years for our ESOP document.

If needed, there's this:

https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Determination,-Opinion-and-Advisory-Letter-for-Retirement-Plans-Check-the-Status-of-Your-Letter

[Belgarath]

Don't file for many d-letters these days. Although I'm by no means surprised at the timeframe, I'd certainly contact the IRS to inquire. Last one we filed was a 5300 for a Defined Benefit plan, and we got approval (without even a comment or question, which was a surprise) in app. 8 months.

[Peter Gulia]

Thank you both for your help.

The chart on the webpage GMK points to suggests that an application on Form 5307 has the lowest priority in getting assigned to a specialist.