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EBSA News Release: [09/20/2005]
Contact Name: David James or Gloria Della
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x8664
Release Number: 05-1732-NAT

U.S. Labor Department Extends Time and Areas Covered by Reporting Relief for Areas Hit by Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced additional time has been granted to Jan. 3, 2006, for filing deadline of Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns for employee benefit plans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Due to the substantial property damage and destruction from Hurricane Katrina, the reporting relief is being expanded to include 64 parishes in Louisiana, 83 counties in Mississippi, 22 counties in Alabama and 11 Florida counties. Under this relief, Form 5500 filings required to be filed between Aug. 29, 2005 and Jan. 3, 2006, are granted an extension until Jan. 3, 2006. For Florida, the relief covers filings due starting Aug. 24, 2005 to Jan. 3, 2006.

If the President declares additional counties eligible for individual or public assistance, this relief will also apply to them.

The extension applies to plan administrators, employers and other entities located in the areas directly affected, as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The extension also applies to firms located outside the affected areas who are unable to obtain the necessary information from service providers, banks or insurance companies whose operations were directly affected by the hurricane.

Plan filers entitled to an extension of relief should check Part I, Box D on the Form 5500 or Part 1 on Form 5500-EZ and attach a statement to the form in accordance with the instructions.

For more information about disaster relief, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 1-800-621-3362 or (202) 621-FEMA or the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov under “Disaster Area Tax Relief.” Filers who have additional questions may contact EBSA's EFAST Help Line at 1-866-463-3278.

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