Does COVID-19 affect the due date for our benefit plan’s Form 5500 filing?

Yes, the IRS recently issued Notice 2020-23 (an update to previous guidance), which provides filing relief to employee benefit plans required to file a Form 5500.  Employee benefit plans with original or extended filing deadlines for Form 5500 that fall between April 1, 2020, and July 15, 2020, now have until July 15, 2020, to file their Form 5500.  This is automatic relief – plan sponsors need not file an extension, though some further extension is available by doing so.  Note that this relief affects fiscal year plans – it does not extend to calendar year 2019 Forms 5500 due July 31, 2020 (again the relief is for the window from April 1, 2020, and July 15, 2020).   If you have questions about this relief, or other questions about late filings or ways COVID-19 affects your employee benefit plans, please contact Jon T. Coffin by email (jcoffin@jahlaw.com) or phone (704-998-2324).