Form 5500-EZ records checklist before filing
A pre-filing records checklist for Solo 401(k) sponsors who want a traceable Form 5500-EZ packet instead of guessed values.
Summary
Before preparing Form 5500-EZ, collect plan identity records, prior filings, year-end statements, beginning balance support, contribution records, distribution or rollover records, participant loan records, extension evidence and filing-method notes. Missing records are not a formatting issue; they can change whether the packet is safe to prepare.
Records first, form second.
| Identity records | Plan name, EIN, PN, prior returnAvoid mismatches before entering values. |
|---|---|
| Financial records | Statements, contributions, distributions, loansEvery number should have a source. |
| Timing records | Deadline, extension, filing proofLate or uncertain cases are not routine packets. |
1. Plan identity records
Collect the formal plan name, plan number, plan effective date, employer legal name, employer EIN, business code, administrator name and EIN if different, current mailing address, prior Form 5500-EZ or Form 5500-series filing, and any CP214 reminder or IRS correspondence. Stop if identity facts conflict.
2. Year-end asset records
Collect December 31 brokerage, trust, custodian and loan statements for every account belonging to the one-participant plan. Keep beginning-balance support too, especially if a prior return was filed. Do not check the $250,000 threshold from one subaccount when the plan has multiple accounts.
3. Contribution, rollover and distribution records
Collect employer contribution support, participant contribution support, rollover or transfer confirmations, distribution records, final account statements if the plan ended, and any notes explaining timing. The packet should separate contributions from rollovers and should not turn rollover tax treatment into product advice.
4. Loan and liability records
Collect participant loan agreements, amortization schedules, repayment records, year-end outstanding principal and interest support, payoff records and any liability support. A simple packet assumes no unclear default, deemed distribution, prohibited transaction, acquisition debt or other liability issue.
5. Deadline and filing-method records
Collect the plan year dates, original due date, Form 5558 or employer-return extension evidence if used, 10-return threshold facts, EFAST2 confirmation if filed electronically, paper mailing proof if filed by mail, and the final signed copy. Keep these with the annual passport for next year.
What Solo 5500 Desk prepares
Solo 5500 Desk prepares the organized packet, checklist and annual passport when records are ready. It does not retrieve IRS transcripts, obtain EINs, file extensions, collect EFAST2 credentials, transmit the return, store official receipts or resolve missing-record disputes.
Common questions
Can I prepare Form 5500-EZ from memory?
No. Use source records. The form is public, and record mismatches can create problems in later years or when an IRS notice arrives.
What if I cannot find the prior Form 5500-EZ?
Treat that as a warning. Prior plan name, EIN, plan number and ending asset values can affect the current packet. Reconstruct the history before filing.
Should I enter EFAST2 credentials into Solo 5500 Desk?
No. Official filing credentials, PINs, signatures and transmission stay outside the product.
Start with the free checker
Use the checker to confirm the case still looks like a simple one-participant Form 5500-EZ packet before preparing records.
Open checkerRelated guides
How electronic Form 5500-EZ filing works
When a Solo 401(k) sponsor may need EFAST2, why Login.gov credentials matter, and what packet-only software does not do.
Brokerage statement checklist for Form 5500-EZ
The source-record checklist a Solo 401(k) owner should assemble before preparing a Form 5500-EZ packet.
Form 5500-EZ 10-return electronic filing threshold
A narrow guide for Solo 401(k) sponsors checking whether the IRS 10-return e-filing threshold changes their Form 5500-EZ filing method.