Registration for EFAST-2 Credentials

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
1210-0117 SS EFAST-2 Registration 6-6-24 - Clean.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-08-19
60-day FRN (1210-0117) published.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-09

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
13488	Registration for EFAST-2 Credentials Other-Registration-Challenge Question Web page	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1210-0117	ICR Reference No: 202408-1210-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202107-1210-002
Agency/Subagency: DOL/EBSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Registration for EFAST-2 Credentials
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/01/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2024
Responses	91,723	248,985
Time Burden (Hours)	30,574	82,995
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) section 104 requires administrators of employee benefits plans (pension and welfare plans) and employers sponsoring certain fringe benefit plans and other plans of deferred compensation to file returns/reports annually with the Secretary of Labor concerning the financial condition and operation of plans. Reporting requirements are satisfied by filing the Form 5500 in accordance with its instructions and the related regulations. Form 5500 filings are processed under the ERISA Filing Acceptance System 2 (EFAST-2), which is designed to simplify and expedite the receipt and processing of the Form 5500 by relying on internet-based forms and electronic filing technologies. In order to file electronically, employee benefit plan Filing authors, Schedule authors, Filing signers, Form 5500 transmitters, and entities developing software to complete and/or transmit the Form 5500 are required to register for EFAST-2 credentials through the EFAST2 website. The information requested for registration includes: Applicant type (Filing Author, Filing Signer, Schedule Author, Transmitter, or software developer); mailing address; fax number (optional); email address; company name, contact person; and daytime telephone number. Registrants must also provide an answer to a challenge question (“What is your date of birth?” or “Where is your place of birth?”), which enables users to retrieve forgotten credentials. In addition, registrants must accept a Privacy Agreement; PIN Agreement; and, under penalty of perjury, a Signature Agreement.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 29 USC 1024 Name of Law: Employee Income Retirement Secuity Act of 1974 (ERISA)
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 7732	02/05/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 79963	10/01/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Registration for EFAST-2 Credentials

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	91,723	248,985	0	0	-157,262	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	30,574	82,995	0	0	-52,421	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The burden estimates declined due to a decrease in the number of applications for electronic signatures. Additionally, the Department now utilizes Login.gov for EFAST-2 account sign-in and, as such, no longer receives requests for forgotten credentials which has further reduced the burden for this ICR. Also, applicants must only register for an electronic signature the first year they submit a Form 5500 through EFAST-2. In subsequent Form 5500 submissions, they can reuse the signature they previously obtained. Therefore, the Department expects applications to continue to decline over time. In this information collection, the number of responses has decreased by 157,262 responses and the hour burden has decreased by 52,421 hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 10/01/2024

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