U.S. Labor Department releases online datasets of 1999 to 2008 form 5500 filings

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced that the general public can now access online datasets of Form 5500 annual report/returns for approximately 800,000 retirement, health and other employee benefit plans that cover the plan years 1999 through 2008.

The Form 5500 annual report/returns are a primary source of information about the operations, funding and investments of employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Retirement and welfare benefit plans required to file an annual return/report regarding their respective financial conditions, investments and operations each year generally satisfy that requirement by filing the Form 5500 and any required attachments.

These datasets are the raw data from all of the filings for each year, including the data in the various schedules. These datasets represent filings that are frequently requested under the Freedom of Information Act. The filings have been useful in understanding the plan universe for policy, enforcement, research, outreach and education for both the public and private sectors.

Questions about the Form 5500 filings should be addressed to the EFAST Help Desk at 866.463.3278. For problems accessing the files email the webmaster.ebsa@dol.gov, or call the Public Disclosure Room for questions on the datasets at 202.693.8673. The online datasets of plan filings are available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa-copy/foia/foia-5500.html.