Sending clients a printable 5500 filing by e-mail

[SoCalActuary]

The early version of the PWBA (now EBSA) forms prohibit use of an Adobe pdf format file in creating the form sent as the official filing. The EBSA web site stated that the postscript language did not produce a proper 2-dimensional scan.

Now I see some mail that TPAs can create their 5500 forms in PDF format and send it to the client for signature. I don't remember the source of this advice.

Either the rules have changed, the Adobe programs have been adapted, the EBSA software has changed, or maybe some practitioners are wrong.

What did I miss?

[No Name]

SoCal,

I use the ftwilliam.com website (a Benefitslink sponsor) to produce Form 5500 and attachments. When ready to print, they're .PDF files. The only caveat I've seen from them is to be sure there's no scaling of the document (Fit to Page) prior to printing.

Including that caveat to the client, I don't know why my printing or their printing would be an issue.

I've used Datair in the past (and respect them). They've got a Q&A on their website that states that .PDFs are not acceptable, but it's dated in 2002. Maybe things have changed.