5500 SF Participant count difference between line 5a and 5(d)(1)

[Jim Chad]

What is the difference on 5500 SF Participant count difference between line 5a and 5(d)(1)?

[Belgarath]

I believe, offhand, that 5a is ALL participants, whereas 5d(1) is only "active" participants.

1. Active participants (i.e., any individuals who are
currently in employment covered by the plan and who are
earning or retaining credited service under the plan). This
includes any individuals who are eligible to elect to have the
employer make payments under a Code section 401(k)
qualified cash or deferred arrangement. Active participants
also include any nonvested individuals who are earning or
retaining credited service under the plan. This does not
include (a) nonvested former employees who have incurred
the break in service period specified in the plan or (b) former
employees who have received a “cash-out” distribution or
deemed distribution of their entire nonforfeitable accrued
benefit.

[jjwolf]

The instructions are unclear at best, but logically 5a and 5d(1) should be answering different questions. The instructions should make this clear.

[Tom Poje]

in other words, sort of a bassackwards method of asking the same question as that which is on the 5500 for large plans, but instead of making it easy and asking 'how many terminated people with balances do you have' it asks how many active people do you have (whether they balances or not)

[cs771]

Are you counting those terminated employees with account balances as both "active participants" and "participants"? I thought you would count terminated employees with account balances as participants because they fall under the former entitled to current of future benefits, but not active since they have terminated.