When is Form 5500 due?
For calendar-year benefit plans, July 31 — the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. Filing Form 5558 by that date gives an automatic 2½-month extension to October 15.
Friday, July 31, 2026in 30 daysWho it applies to
Sponsors of ERISA-covered pension and welfare benefit plans. For a calendar-year plan, Form 5500 is due the last day of the seventh month after plan year-end — July 31.
If you miss it
Late filings can draw steep DOL penalties per day plus IRS penalties. The DOL's Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) offers sharply reduced penalties if you self-correct before being caught.
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Last verified Saturday, June 13, 2026 · General information for employers and HR teams, not legal advice.
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