The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced that additional time has been granted, to January 3, 2006, for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns for employee benefit plans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The reporting relief is being expanded to include 64 parishes in Louisiana, 83 counties in Mississippi, 22 counties in Alabama and 11 Florida counties. (See Further help from IRS for those affected by Hurricane Katrina) Under this relief, Form 5500 filings required to be filed between August 29, 2005 (August 24 in Florida) and January 3, 2006, are granted an extension until January 3, 2006.

If the President declares additional counties eligible for individual or public assistance, this relief will also apply to them.

The extension applies to plan administrators, employers and other entities located in the areas directly affected, as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The extension also applies to firms located outside the affected areas who are unable to obtain the necessary information from service providers, banks or insurance companies whose operations were directly affected by the hurricane.

Plan filers entitled to an extension of relief should check Part I, Box D on the Form 5500 or Part 1 on Form 5500-EZ and attach a statement to the form in accordance with the instructions.

...back to 22 September 2005

Source:
U.S. Labor Department Extends Time and Areas Covered by Reporting Relief for Areas Hit by Hurricane Katrina
U.S. Labor Department Extends Annual Reports Deadline After Hurricane Katrina Hits Florida
U. S. Labor Department Helps Hurricane Katrina Victims Preserve Health Benefits
Fact Sheet: Extension of Time Frames to Help Plans and Individuals Affected by Hurricane Katrina

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