final return for 2000 short plan year

[Guest pdahlen]

We have a terminated calendar year plan that distributed all assets February 28, 2000. The final 5500 for the short plan year January 1, 2000 - February 28, 2000 is due September 30, 2000 or with an extension until December 15, 2000. Previously we would have used the prior year 5500 and "X'ed-out" the year on the form changing it to the current year, as indicated in the 5500 instructions. Does anyone know how to handle this situation using the new forms? The current instructions do not address this and if we wait until the DOL issues the 2000 forms, we will probably miss the extended due date.

[Kristina]

The best and easiest approach to filing the final 5500 series for the plan is to utilize the green line forms and to mark out the 1999 and put in 2000. Because the scanning of the 5500 series for the 1999 year does not take into account the fact that a 2000 year may be filed on the 1999 forms, using machine print forms is not really an option this year. Hopefully, the DOL will address final filings for plans that terminate between 1/1 and 5/31 of a year.

[Guest CGBS]

I had the same situation - according to "TAG" a representative from the DOL said we could use the machine printed forms and change the year in RED INK! I tried it but it may be months before I hear that was wrong.