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Q1: Who needs to register to use EFAST2?

You may need to register for EFAST2 if:

  • You want to complete Form 5500, Form 5500-SF, or Form 5500-EZ using IFILE. Check the "Filing Author" user type(s) when you register.
  • You are registering as a pooled plan provider. You must complete the Form PR using IFILE. Check the "Filing Author" and "Filing Signer" user types when you register.
  • You are signing as a plan sponsor, plan administrator, individual for a Direct Filing Entity, or a plan service provider with written authorization to file on behalf of the plan administrator under the EFAST2 e-signature option. Check the "Filing Signer" user type when registering. If you are the plan administrator or plan sponsor, you only need to register once.
  • You want to transmit completed filings through third-party software. Check the "Transmitter" user type. Contact your third-party software provider to determine if this is necessary.

You must register as a Filing Signer if you will be electronically signing filings submitted to EFAST2. Enrolled actuaries and accountants do not need to register as a Filing Signer if they are manually signing a Schedule SB, Schedule MB, Accountant's Opinion, or audit report filed with a Form 5500 Series.

When you register, you will receive:

  • User ID (used to identify you)
  • PIN (used as your electronic signature)

Your EFAST2 user credentials belong to you and cannot be shared. Your credentials are personal not linked to any plan, even though you provide company information when you register.

You do not need to register to:

  • Access parts of the EFAST2 website that provide basic public disclosure and reference information.
  • Search for information about past 401(K) plans or other participant benefits.
  • Use the Form 5500 Search page to look up company or plan information.

Q2: How do I register for EFAST2 credentials?

From the EFAST2 website, click Sign In with Login.gov and follow the steps to Sign In or Create an Account at Login.gov. When you return to the EFAST2 website, you can complete your profile and receive your User ID and PIN.

  1. Click Sign in with Login.gov and complete the required registration and/or log in.
  2. After returning to the EFAST2 website from Login.gov, you can choose to Create an EFAST2 account if an existing account is not found for you.
  3. On the EFAST2 Registration page, click Continue.
  4. Read and accept the privacy statement.
  5. On the next screen, provide your profile information and select one or more user types. For example, someone preparing, signing, and submitting a filing through IFILE will choose Filing Author and Filing Signer. After verifying that the information you entered is correct, click Submit.
  6. You will be asked to accept the PIN Agreement, which describes the security of your PIN and what to do if your PIN is lost or stolen. You will also be asked to accept the Signature Agreement if you will be signing the filing.
  7. The Confirmation page displays your EFAST2 UserID and PIN, and your EFAST2 registration is complete.

Q3a: I don't have a Login.gov account. What do I need to do?

From the EFAST2 website, click Sign In with Login.gov and follow the steps to Create an Account.

  • On the EFAST2 login page, click Sign in with Login.gov.
  • On the Login.gov website, click Create an Account.
  • Enter an email address. Use the same email address that you use for EFAST2 if you have an existing EFAST2 account. Click Submit.
  • A message will be displayed to indicate that an email was sent to the given email address.
  • From the email, click Confirm Email Address.
  • On the Login.gov password page, create a strong password of at least 12 characters, and then click Continue.
  • On the Authentication Method Setup page, select any option from the list. For example, select the phone method to get security codes by text message (SMS) or phone call. Click Continue.
  • After adding an authentication method, click Agree and Continue.

Q3b: How do I sign in with Login.gov?

From the EFAST2 website, click Sign In with Login.gov and follow the steps to Sign In.

  • On the EFAST2 login page, click Sign in with Login.gov.
  • On the Login.gov website, enter your email address and password and click Sign In.
  • Enter the requested information on the authentication page and click Submit.
  • You must accept the Terms of Service to continue.
  • If you are logging in for the first time, you will be directed to the My Profile page to set up your Login.gov profile.

Q4: Do I have to use Login.gov to register or log in with EFAST2?

As of January 1, 2023, all new EFAST2 users must use Login.gov to obtain EFAST2 credentials and to log in to the EFAST2 website.

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Q8: I don't remember my User ID or PIN. How can I retrieve it?

After logging in to the EFAST2 website, go to "Your Account" and select "Profile & PIN" to view your User ID and PIN.

Q9: How can I change the email address on my account?

You must first update your email address on your Login.gov account before changing it in your EFAST2 profile. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to https://login.gov and update your email address or add a new one to your account.
  2. After updating your Login.gov account, go to https://www.efast.dol.gov and click "Sign in with Login.gov".
  3. Once signed in, go to "Your Account" in the navigation menu and select "Profile & Pin".
  4. On the profile page, choose "Change Profile" and select the updated email address.

Your EFAST2 registration is not linked to a specific plan or Employer Identification Number. Your EFAST2 user credentials belong to you and cannot be transferred.

You can also use the EFAST2 Change Profile function to update information other than your email address, including company name and user types.

Q10: How can I change the contact information or user types on my EFAST2 profile?

To update your EFAST2 profile, including user types linked to your User ID, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the EFAST2 website.
  2. Go to "Your Account" in the navigation menu and select "Profile & PIN".
  3. On your profile page, select "Change Profile" to make updates.
  4. Save your changes before exiting.

EFAST2 assigns a unique User ID that you cannot change after setting up an account.

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Q12: I am not sure if I have already registered. How can I check?

If you are unsure whether you have a Login.gov account, click Sign In with Login.gov, and then click Create an Account and enter your email address. You will receive an email to continue to create a new account, or an email that indicates that you already have a Login.gov account.

Alternatively, click Forgot your password, and enter your email address. If you have a Login.gov account, you will receive an email with a link to Reset your Password. Otherwise, you will receive an email to indicate that there is not a Login.gov account connected to the email address that you entered.

Q13: I work for multiple companies, but the Company Name field will not let me enter both company names. How can I register for all my companies/plans?

The EFAST2 registration process does not provide a way to add multiple companies to a profile, and it is not necessary for you to do so. Although you provide employment information when registering, the credentials are personal and are not linked to a company or plan. The EFAST2 credentials can be used to identify the registrant for multiple years and on multiple filings.

EFAST2 registration allows only one active User ID per valid email account. Each person should need only one active registration.

Q14: What are User Types, and which should I choose?

Each user type has specific filing tasks associated with it. If you will perform multiple filing tasks, you can select multiple user types during registration.

Filing Author: Filing Authors can complete Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ (including the accompanying schedules and attachments) and Form PR. They can also submit filings, check the status of filings, and amend filings in IFILE.

Filing Authors cannot sign filings unless they also select the "Filing Signer" role. If you are using EFAST2-approved third-party software instead of IFILE, you do not need to select this role.

Filing Signer: Filing signers are Plan Administrators, Employers/Plan Sponsors, or Direct Filing Entities who electronically sign Form 5500/5500-SF5500-EZ or Form PR. Plan service providers with written authorization to file on behalf of the plan administrator under the EFAST2 e-signature option should also select this role.

Filing Signers cannot perform other filing-related functions unless they also select additional roles.

Schedule Author: Schedule Authors can complete one or more schedules that accompany Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ.

Schedules created by Schedule Authors are not automatically associated with a filing. Schedule Authors must export the schedule, and Filing Authors must import it into the appropriate filing.

Schedule Authors cannot initiate, sign, or submit filings. If Filing Authors use EFAST2-approved third-party software instead of IFILE, you do not need to check this box.

Transmitter: Transmitters submit Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ filings to the EFAST2 system on behalf of others. Transmitters are responsible for securing filing information before and during transmission. A Transmitter can be a company, trade, business, or individual.

Third-Party Software Developer: Third-Party Software Developers create software for preparing or transmitting Form 5500 Series filings. They submit test cases using their software to the EFAST2 Participant Acceptance Testing System (PATS). The PATS Certification Team reviews submissions and either provides feedback or approves and certifies the software. A Third-Party Software Developer can be a company, trade, business, or individual.

Only Form 5500/5500-SF/5500-EZ filings can be completed with a Third-Party Software Developer application. Form PR must be filed using IFILE.

Q15: Do I need to register each year?

No. EFAST2 credentials can be used to identify the registrant for multiple years and on multiple filings. You should only need to register one time.

Q16: Where can I find more information about EFAST2 credentials?

The EFAST2 website contains links to Frequently Asked Questions, User Guides, and instructions.

Q17: I am the new author/signer for the company and do not know the previous credentials. What do I do?

Register for your own EFAST2 credentials at www.efast.dol.gov. Use your name and email address to create a unique USER ID and 4-digit PIN for electronic signatures.

Your EFAST2 registration is not linked to a specific plan or Employer Identification Number. Your EFAST2 user credentials belong to you and cannot be transferred.

You can view filings previously submitted for a plan through the EFAST2 website.

Contact the EFAST2 Help Desk if you need more assistance.

Q18: Can I delete my account?

Yes. Follow these steps:

To delete your Login.gov account: Visit the Login.gov website for instructions.

To deactivate your EFAST2 account:

Q19: Which email can I use for creating an account?

If you have an existing EFAST2 account, it is easiest if you use the same email address when creating your Login.gov account.

You will need access to that account to complete the Login.gov account creation.

We do not recommend using a shared email account for registration. EFAST2 registration is not linked to a specific plan or Employer Identification Number. EFAST2 user credentials belong to the person who obtains them and are not transferrable.

Q20: What is Login.gov?

Login.gov is a shared service that is trusted by Government agencies. With one Login.gov account, you can access applications from many participating Government partners.

Q21: Where can I get help with Login.gov?

See the Login.gov website.

Q22: Are EFAST2 and Login.gov accounts different?

Yes. These accounts serve different purposes:

  • EFAST 2 accounts let you manage Form 5500 Series filings and provide you with a User ID and PIN specific to the EFAST2 system.
  • Login.gov accounts allow you to access government websites, including the EFAST2 system.

Q23: Can I enter my EFAST2 email address to sign in to Login.gov?

To sign into Login.gov, you must enter the email address linked to your Login.gov account. This email address may match the one on your EFAST2 account if you have signed in before.

If you don't already have a Login.gov account, you can create one using your email address. After creating an account, you can either link to an existing EFAST2 account or create a new EFAST2 account.

Q24: I already have a Login.gov account. How do I get an EFAST2 User ID and PIN?

If you already have a Login.gov account but not an EFAST2 account, follow these steps to create one and get your User ID and PIN:

  1. Go to the EFAST2 website and click "Sign in with Login.gov".
  2. Enter your Login.gov email address and password and click "Sign In".
  3. Complete the authentication process, which will send you back to the EFAST2 website.
  4. Click "Create" to setup your EFAST2 account and get your User ID and PIN.

Q25: I am signing on a third-party website and received a signature error. What does it mean if my signature credentials were invalid to sign?

You must have valid EFAST2 signature credentials to sign filings electronically. Valid EFAST2 credentials include:

  • A User ID and matching PIN.
  • The "Filing Signer" user type.

To verify and update your EFAST2 signature credentials:

  1. Go to the EFAST2 website and click "Sign in with Login.gov".
  2. Go to "Your Account" and click "Profile & PIN" to check your User ID, PIN, and ensure your account includes the "Filing Signer" user type.
  3. If needed, use the "Change Profile" function to update your account.

After verifying your credentials, return to the third-party website and try again. For further help, contact the third-party website.