The IRS issued Notice 2020-23 which provides additional filing relief for taxpayers affected by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The IRS relief includes Form 5500, Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan, due to be filed (originally or pursuant to a valid extension) on or after April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020. With the relief the due date for filing is July 15, 2020. The relief is automatic and taxpayers do not have to call the IRS or file extension forms or send letters or other documents to receive this relief. Additional filing extensions beyond July 15 must be requested using the appropriate extension form by July 15, but the extension may not go beyond the original or regulatory extension date. The IRS filing relief for Form 5500 comes through Rev. Proc. 2018-58 . Notice 2020-23 states that Specified Time Sensitive Actions are covered and refers taxpayers to Rev. Proc. 2018-58 which explicitly includes Form 5500. This immediate relief does not extend to calendar year 2019 Form 5500 filings originally due July 31, 2020. The EBPAQC will continue to advocate for and monitor filing relief from the IRS and DOL, and will communicate to members any additional relief notices.
Please contact Paul Esche, CPA, CCIFP, CCA at pesche@hsccpa.com for more information.
