5500 filings and attachments

[2muchstress]

Okay, so October 15th is a little late to be asking this question, but everybody in my office seems to have a different opinion.

What order should the attachments to a 5500 be in when the returned is filed?

Some people argue alphabetically. Some argue that the Schedule P is last because it is not required. Some don't ever pay any attention.

Any comments would be great.

[pmacduff]

We file ours alphabetically. Personally I think out of alpha order just begs for a DOL letter saying they are missing a schedule.......................

[2muchstress]

I agree. When filing personal taxes, you always put the 1040 first, then file the Schedules alphabetically, then the Forms numerically. I would assume the same theory would apply to 5500's.

Although, several people in my office with 20+ years of experience seem to disagree. Creatures of habit?? Maybe.

[pmacduff]

2much - I "only" have 12 years of experience and alpha is how I was trained - guess I'm a creature of habit, too!

[E as in ERISA]

I agree that alpha makes the most sense for 5500s -- its a unique set of forms and the instructions put them in alpha order.

But I woudn't base it on 1040 procedures -- there are actually "attachment sequence" numbers for the 1040s -- which in the past were not always in the same numerical order as the form numbers themselves.

[kocak]

Just to be different... we put them in the order listed on the Form 5500. We figure the DOL is expecting them in this order, or else they would have put the Schedules in alphabetical order on the Form. Our office also files the 5558 last, however I would prefer to file it right after the Form 5500.

mck

[Brian Gallagher]

i don't hink it matters, because i'm sure each representative has his or her own priorities when they look at the forms. some may look at sched H first, while others might think that the T is more important; certainly both of those are more important than the A.

plus, since most of the forms are machine scanable these days, how does the PWBA scan them? does it pool together all the 5500's in one pile, all the A's in another, the C's in a third and so on? and if they get scanned as they come in, it really shouldn't matter in what order they are scanned...they're all computer coded!

sorry, i'm rambling...it's getting late. time to go home!

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

I fold each schedule into the shape of an animal the schedule letter represents and ship the whole thing in a big box. For example, the Schedule A is folded into an alligator, the Schedule B into a barracuda, and so forth.

Honestly, talk about meaningless discussions; this one takes the cake.

[Guest ritchie]

It's not fair to make fun of people with issues, you sarcastic scaly Schedule F.

[Lori Friedman]

Blinky, it's obvious that you've never worked as a Tax Accountant. This is exactly the sort of issue that keeps us awake at 3:00 am. In fact, I'm now going to have to call DOL and get an answer, just to satisfy my curiosity and, of course, to annoy you.

[No Name]

And I'm gonna call my father to find all the Red Sox shortstops you omitted.

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

Ritchie is a troublemaker stirring up posts 3 years old. I think he is a big meanie. Anyway, I have changed my views. I was having trouble making a cockatoo.

[Guest b2kates]

We always arranged them alpha. do not remember a particular reason Just SOP

[Earl]

I file small plan returns and use the order TRIP. Just because its long and strange.

[Guest ritchie]

Careful Blinky or I'll send a burly cage fighter after you.

[Lori Friedman]

Just because its long and strange.

Sort of like this message thread?

[Tom Poje]

I am assuming that the schedule P is folded in the shape of the Pogge Fish.

[Steve72]

Really? I aways filed it as a polecat.

[wmyer]

Maybe the DOL schedules should come first, then the IRS schedules. Or vice-versa. Where in the alphabet does the letter "SSA" come...is that before "T"?

[Earl]

sorry, what's an SSA?

[Lori Friedman]

What happens when we attach a Form 5558 extension? Do we sort it under "F" for "form", or under "E" for "extension"? Does it go before or after Schedule E? And, what if we're really confused and are still filing a Schedule F?

Here's my solution: I'm too confused, so I just won't prepare any more Form 5500's.

[could be me maybe not]

Zen question of the day:

What order do they go if they are filed electronically?

[Lori Friedman]

What order do they go if they are filed electonically?

I can't really tell from the electronic filing version -- just a bunch of computer code gibberish.

But, I just noticed that www.freeerisa.com displays the schedules alphabetically. If you search for a return and then select "Show all", you'll get everything in alphabetical order.