DOL Regulatory Resources

Overview

The Department of Labor provides numerous resources for employee benefit plan auditors and Form 5500 and financial statement preparers, as well as individuals who select auditors.

The DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) protects the integrity of pensions, health plans, and other employee benefits for more than 150 million people. Its mission is to:  

• Deter and correct violations of the relevant statutes through strong administrative, civil and criminal enforcement efforts to ensure workers receive promised benefits
• Develop policies and regulations that encourage the growth of employment-based benefits
• Assist workers in getting the information they need to exercise their benefit rights
• Assist plan officials to understand the requirements of the relevant statutes in order to meet their legal responsibilities

The public may reach EBSA on its toll-free participant assistance number, 1-866-444-EBSA (3272); EFAST help line: 1-866-463-3278; and via its' Web site.

Regulations and Filing

EFAST & EFAST 2 Filing
EFAST is a system designed to simplify and expedite the receipt and processing of the Forms 5500/5500-SF.  Up-to-date information about filing requirements, electronic filing options, software availability, frequently asked questions, publications and forms may be found on the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Publications & Articles

Reporting and Disclosure Guide for Employee Benefit Plans
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued a Reporting and Disclosure Guide for Employee Benefit Plans.

Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has prepared a guide to the basic fiduciary responsibilities applicable to retirement plans under the law.

10 Warning Signs that Pension Contributions Are Being Misused
An anti-fraud campaign developed by the Department of Labor uncovered a small fraction of employers who abused employee contributions by either using the money for corporate purposes or holding on to the money too long. To alert auditors to such incidents of fraud, the Department of Labor published 10 warning signs that pension contributions are being misused.

Compliance & Enforcement Programs

DOL Compliance and Enforcement Programs
This website gives information on the DOL’s Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) and the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP).

IRS Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System
This website gives information on correcting plan errors through either the self-correction program or the voluntary correction program.

2015 DOL Report on Assessing the Quality of Employee Benefit Plan Audits
This report outlines the DOL’s audit quality study and its results related to the review of audit work performed by independent CPAs with respect to financial statement audits of ERISA employee benefit plans for the 2011 plan year.