Attach auditor's opinion or entire audit report?

[Flyboyjohn]

Part III of Schedule H requires attachment of the auditor's "opinion"

The opinion is just the signed first page of the auditor's "report" which goes on to include the statement of net assets, statement of changes, footnotes, etc.

I've seen instances where the 5500 preparer/filer only attached the opinion and not the entire report.

Is this legal/permissable?

Thanks

[david rigby]

Entire auditor report.

[Flyboyjohn]

Since some filers seem to be getting away with just the opinion do you have a citation? Thanks

[Bill Presson]

Since some filers seem to be getting away with just the opinion do you have a citation? Thanks

From the instructions:

Part III – Accountant’s Opinion

Line 3. The administrator of an employee benefit plan who files a Schedule H generally must engage an Independent Qualified

Public Accountant (IQPA) pursuant to ERISA section 103(a)(3)(A) and 29 CFR 2520.103-1(b). This requirement also

applies to a Form 5500 filed for a 103-12 IE and for a GIA (see 29 CFR 2520.103-12 and 29 CFR 2520.103-2). The IQPA’s

report must be attached to the Form 5500 when a Schedule H is attached unless line 3d(1) or 3d(2) on the Schedule H is

checked.

Note. An IQPA Report generally consists of an Accountant’s Opinion, Financial Statements, Notes to the Financial

Statements, and Supplemental Schedules.

[Guest Dell]

Not sure if this is related to what you are talking about or not, but at least in my software there are several different areas where the auditors info needs to be linked. Yes, the Opinion (AO) is just the generally one-page auditor's opinion and there is a link for it. Financials statements and notes have another link, DOL supplementary statements each have their own as well. BUT, you are allowed to link the entire auditor's report (including opinion, financial statements, notes and supplementary schedules) to the link for the AO, and then simply link a PDF to all of the other required links noting that item has neen included with the AO link.

To me, that is the easiest method to use, but it is possible for a firm to just link the different parts individually at the various location. Maybe that is what you are hearing about? Clearly, the opinion by itself would not be acceptable.