Stupid 8955-SSA form

[Guest Brenda Schachle]

line 6a says report those REQUIRED to be reported

line 6b says report those Voluntarily reported

line 7 is the sum of two.

ok..... the instructions say for line 6a provide " the total number of participants entitled .........under the plan in 2009 AND WHO WERE NOT REPORTED ON THE 2008 SCHEDULE SSA." What about those coded "D"? They were reported on 2008 as "A" and will now be reported on 2009 8955 as "D" -- SHOULD THEY BE COUNTED HERE?

I really want this line 7 number to match the number of participants reported -- regardless of the code -- but that is really not what the instructions say. PLEASE HELP!

[Beemer]

We have been including code "D"s in the participant counts. Although we are preparing paper filings, I have been told that if the counts don't match the number of names listed, if you file electronically, that will generate an error.

[Tom Poje]

Publication 4810 for electronically filing for 8955-SSA requires that the totals equal each other:

.17 The count of total participants reported in positions 568-575 of the Sponsor “S” Record does not equal the count of Participant “P” Records received

the instructions clearly say

Use Form 8955-SSA to report information about separated participants with deferred vested benefits under the plan. Report participants who have a deferred vested benefit under the plan and who:

separated from service covered by the plan;

were reported as deferred vested participants on another plan's filing if their benefits were transferred (other than in a rollover) to the plan during the covered period;

previously were reported under the plan but have been paid out or are no longer entitled to those deferred vested benefits; or

previously were reported under the plan but whose information is being corrected.

I think the person who wrote line 6 saw "separated participants with deferred vested benefits under the plan" which would seem to exclude "D" people

rather than

"information about separated participants with deferred vested benefits under the plan"

....

by the way, a recent ASPPA ASAP also noted the discrepency between the paper instructions and the electronic instructions.