Common questions about Benefit Plan Form 5500 amended returns in Lacerte

Below, you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about amending a Benefit Plan return in Lacerte:

How do you correct and retransmit a rejected Form 5500?

When the Department of Labor (DOL) rejects a Benefit Plan (Form 5500/5500EZ), the agency still considers the plan accepted, so you must amend and retransmit it.

For other tax returns, the IRS doesn't consider them as "accepted" until you receive an Accepted Acknowledgement.

To amend the Form 5500 and e-file the amended return:

Before you begin: Lacerte recommends making a copy of your original return before making any amendment changes. This ensures the original data stays intact for future reference (but this isn't a requirement).

1. Select the Clients tab.
2. Select the client file.
3. From the menu, select E-file.
4. Go to Step 1: Print Signature Document to expand menu options.
5. Select Cancel Request for Signatures.
6. Go to Screen 3, Miscellaneous Information.
7. Scroll to the Amended Return/Report section.
8. In 1=amended return/report, enter a 1.
9. In e-File only: Acknowledgement ID, enter the Acknowledgement ID.
   • To find the Acknowledgement ID:
     1. Hold down the F4 key.
     2. Select the e-File Status tab.
     3. Locate the 30-digit Acknowledgement ID.
10. Complete the Schedules Amended (Form 5500) subsection:
    1. Enter the Number of Schedule A(s) generating with the return.
    2. Select all applicable boxes for Schedules generating with the return:
       • Schedule AC
       • Schedule D
       • Schedule G
       • Schedule HO
       • Schedule I
       • Schedule MB/S B
       • Schedule R
11. Make any necessary corrections to the return to resolve the e-file reject.
12. Resend the Request Signature and transmit the return when signature status shows complete.