Which Solo 401(k) assets go on Form 5500-EZ?
How to organize beginning and ending plan assets before preparing an annual one-participant return.
Summary
Report beginning-of-year and end-of-year plan assets at fair market value as of the plan year's first and last day. Example: a Solo 401(k) starting 2025 with $245,000, receiving $23,000 employee deferral + $7,800 employer contribution, with $18,200 in market gains and $0 distributions, ends 2025 at $294,000 — crossing the $250,000 threshold and triggering a 5500-EZ for plan year 2025. Hard-to-value assets (private equity, real estate, crypto custody) exit the EZ lane.
Do not estimate plan assets without source records.
| Beginning assets | Prior-year ending balanceReconcile to the prior filed return or passport. |
|---|---|
| Ending assets | Year-end plan balanceUse custodian, brokerage, trust, or account statements. |
| Complex assets | Hard stopPrivate interests, employer real estate, and hard-to-value assets are outside the MVP. |
Start with a reconciliation
The most useful first check is simple: does this year's beginning asset amount match last year's ending asset amount after known timing adjustments? If not, find the source of the difference before preparing the return.
Separate cash activity from valuation
Contributions, rollovers, distributions, transfers, investment gains, investment losses, and fees are activity facts. The ending asset value is the year-end plan value supported by records. Mixing these up creates weak filing support.
Hard-to-value assets are outside scope
The MVP expects simple financial statements. If the plan holds private funds, private company shares, employer real estate, notes, crypto custody questions, collectibles, or nonzero liabilities, use a qualified professional.
Common questions
Can I use a brokerage screenshot for assets?
A statement or official account record is better than a screenshot. The packet should preserve the source document used for beginning and ending values.
What if the beginning balance does not match last year's ending balance?
Stop and reconcile before filing. Differences can come from transfers, corrections, prior-year errors, or record timing, and guessing creates avoidable risk.
Can the app value private investments?
No. Alternative assets, private company interests, employer real estate, illiquid assets, and valuation complexity are outside scope.
Related guides
Solo 401(k) $250,000 threshold for Form 5500-EZ
How the IRS $250,000 one-participant plan asset threshold works for Solo 401(k) Form 5500-EZ filing.
Solo 401(k) owner-only eligibility for Form 5500-EZ
The common-law employee question that decides whether a simple one-participant packet is still the right lane.
Form 5500-EZ line-by-line map for a Solo 401(k)
A source-linked field map for owner-only Solo 401(k) sponsors preparing a simple 2025 Form 5500-EZ packet.
Official sources for this guide
Last reviewed: .