Department of Labor extends deadline for employee benefit plan filings, provides other ERISA compliance guidance.

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration has announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500s and Form 5500-EZs, and issued general guidance on ERISA compliance regarding employee benefit plans affected by the national disaster on Sept. 11.

The extension applies to plan administrators, employers and other entities who file the Form 5500 and Form 5500-EZ that are located in the areas designated as federal disaster areas because of last month's terrorist attacks. The extension also applies to filers located outside the designated disaster areas who are unable to obtain the information necessary for filing from service providers, banks or insurance companies whose operations are directly affected by the disasters.

Under the extension, those with filings originally due between Sept. 11 and Nov. 30 will be allowed an additional six months plus 120 days to file. Filers currently on an extension that expires between Sept. 11 and Nov. 30 will be allowed an...