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EFAST 2 for 5500 Electronic Filing - Process for Obtaining Signing Credentials
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By Susan Peirce, CPA, MTax 
Principal, Apple Growth Partners & Flexible Benefit Systems, Inc.
The Department of Labor (DOL) is requiring that all 5500 filings be electronically filed and signed (known as "EFAST 2"). For the first filing year under EFAST 2, signers must register for filing credentials at the DOL website. Below are instructions for how to obtain filing credentials with the DOL.
Once this process is complete, you can continue to use the UserID and PIN provided by the DOL in future years. If a different person signs the 5500 filing in a future year, that person will have to register with the DOL signing credentials at that time. In addition, more than one person may obtain credentials to sign a 5500 form if more than one person may actually sign the filing.
5500 Form Signer Credential Procedures
There are several steps to registering at the DOL website. We suggest that you set aside approximately 15 minutes to complete the process. However, please keep in mind that it may take more than 15 minutes as there are several steps in the process. Please also note that the DOL may change the registration process - these are the steps as we understand them at the time of this notice.
- Go to http://www.efast.dol.gov and select the link to register.
- You will be asked to read and sign a privacy statement.
- Complete your profile. You will be taken to a screen where you will be required to complete information that will serve as your profile (name, address, email and user type). Your user type is "filing signer".
- Challenge question. Once your profile information is complete, you will be asked to select a challenge question and answer. This is required and will be used to obtain your UserID and PIN in step 6. Your PIN will be available at the link for 3 months.
- Confirm email. Check your email and click on the link provided in the email.
- Answer your Challenge Question. You will be asked the challenge question you set up earlier in the process.
- PIN agreement. You will then be asked to sign a PIN Agreement whereby you will agree not to share the PIN that is assigned to you.
- Signature Agreement. You will then be asked to agree to a more detailed "signature agreement".
- UserID and PIN. You will then be provided a UserID and PIN. We strongly suggest printing this page for your records.
- Password. The last step in the process is to create a password that will be assigned to the UserID and PIN that you were just provided. We suggest making a note of the password that you enter for your records. The password can be used with your UserID to obtain your PIN and/or log in to the DOL website in the future to change any profile information if necessary.
Other Considerations
All signers must use the procedure outlined above for obtaining credentials through the DOL website. This requires having access to the internet and email. DOL has not provided a hardship process for plan sponsors without an internet connection/email. If you do not have an internet connection and email, please contact us for assistance with EFAST.
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