Solo 5500 Desk vs CPA or EA filing service
Solo 5500 Desk prepares a narrow self-review packet for $49. Professional prices and turnaround vary by provider, records, and engagement. Hire a CPA, EA, attorney, or TPA when you need professional judgment, representation, plan correction, late-filer relief, or controlled-group analysis. Use Solo 5500 Desk only when the case is original, on-time, owner-only, and below complexity triggers.
Decision rule
Routine on-time owner-only filing → Solo 5500 Desk. Notice, late filing, employees, or complex assets → CPA/EA.
Price per plan year
- Solo 5500 Desk
- $49 flat
- CPA or EA filing service
- Quoted by the professional
Turnaround time
- Solo 5500 Desk
- Self-paced when records are ready
- CPA or EA filing service
- Depends on intake and record review
Scope coverage
- Solo 5500 Desk
- Original on-time one-participant Solo 401(k) only
- CPA or EA filing service
- Full Form 5500 series, late filings, amendments, IRS notices
EFAST2 transmission
- Solo 5500 Desk
- No (user files via IFILE or paper)
- CPA or EA filing service
- Depends on the engagement and provider
IRS representation
- Solo 5500 Desk
- No
- CPA or EA filing service
- May be available within the professional's authority and engagement
Plan correction (DFVCP, EPCRS)
- Solo 5500 Desk
- No
- CPA or EA filing service
- Yes
Annual filing record for next-year reuse
- Solo 5500 Desk
- Yes
- CPA or EA filing service
- Depends on the professional's workpapers and portal
Portal credentials
- Solo 5500 Desk
- Never requested
- CPA or EA filing service
- Ask the provider how access and credentials are handled
Common questions
Is a CPA required to file Form 5500-EZ?
No. Form 5500-EZ is a self-prepared return that the plan sponsor (often the owner) signs. A CPA is recommended when the case is complex, late, or under IRS notice.
Can a self-prepared Form 5500-EZ be rejected?
Yes. Missing required fields, identity mismatches, the wrong plan year, or incorrect amounts can cause problems. The sponsor must complete and review the official form; Solo 5500 Desk does not guarantee acceptance.
Does Solo 5500 Desk transmit or endorse the return?
No. The sponsor remains the filer and signer. The product supplies a self-review worksheet and checklist, not an IRS approval or filing endorsement.
Can I use Solo 5500 Desk for the routine years and a CPA for unusual years?
Yes — that is the recommended pattern. Use the $49 packet for ordinary years and engage a professional for the year you terminate the plan, hire an employee, miss a deadline, or receive a notice.