Disclosures for Participant Directed Individual Account Plans
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
08/03/2026
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
09/30/2026
629,131,459
1,039,819,787
4,339,144
5,204,349
25,981,640
221,557,106
The Department published a final regulation under ERISA section 404(a), with conforming amendments to the regulations under ERISA section 404(c), that requires plan fiduciaries to disclose plan- and investment-related fee and expense information to participants and beneficiaries in all participant directed individual account plans (e.g.,
401(k)-type plans) for plan years that began on or after November 1, 2011, and at least annually thereafter (defined by regulation as at least once in any 14-month period, without regard to whether the plan operates on a calendar or fiscal year basis).
The final rule, 29 CFR 2550.404a-5(c), requires three sub-categories of plan-related information to be provided to participants and beneficiaries. The first sub-category is general plan information, which includes how participants may give investment instructions or exercise proxy voting or tendering rights, restrictions on transferring account assets among investment alternatives, and identification of the plan's designated investment alternatives and designated investment managers (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(c)(1)). The second sub-category of plan-related information is administrative expense information, which refers to explanations of any fees and expenses for general plan administrative services (e.g., legal, accounting, recordkeeping) charged to individual accounts and the basis for allocating such charges among the accounts (e.g., pro-rata, per capita). (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(c)(2)). The third sub-category of plan-related information is individual expense information, which describes expenses assessed against accounts based on the actions taken by individual participants or beneficiaries. This would include charges for processing participant loans and qualified domestic relations orders. (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(c)(3)). Changes to this information must be disclosed at least 30 days but no more than 90 days before the effective date of the change except for unforeseen events or circumstances beyond the plan administrator's control.
The rule also requires plan administrators to disclose three sub-categories of investment-related information to participants and beneficiaries on or before their date of eligibility, which relates to the plans designated investment alternatives. The first sub-category of information is information required to be provided automatically (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(d)(1)). For each designated investment alternative, the plan must disclose specified identifying information, past performance data, comparable benchmark returns, fee and expense information, and an internet website address that is sufficiently specific to lead participants and beneficiaries to specified supplemental information for each investment alternative. Investment-related information must be furnished in a chart or similar format designed to help participants compare the plan's investment alternatives across each category of information. (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(d)(2)). To facilitate compliance, the rule includes a model chart that may be used by plan fiduciaries to satisfy this requirement. The second sub-category of investment-related information is post-investment information. Following a participant's investment in an alternative, the plan administrator must provide any materials it receives regarding voting, tender or similar rights in the alternative (âpass-through materialsâ) to the extent such rights are passed through to the participant or beneficiary (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(d)(3)). The third sub-category of investment-related information is information to be provided upon request (29 CFR 2550.404a-5(d)(4)). Participants may request the plan to provide prospectuses, financial reports, as well as statements of valuation and a list of assets held by an investment alternative.
US Code:
29 USC 1104
Name of Law: Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
This information collection updated the number of participant-directed individual account plans, the number of participants in participant-directed individual account plans, the number of participants in participant-directed individual account plans with employer securities, wage costs, mailing costs, and electronic disclosure rate.
Additionally, the Department assumes that creating and maintaining a website is common business practice, and has therefore not estimated an additional cost associated with this requirement. As a result, the number of responses has decreased by 410,688,328, the hour burden has decreased by 865,205 hours, and the cost burden has decreased by $195,575,466.
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:
(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;
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.
03_DOL_Request_for_Hearing_DOL_2026-04-19.pdf
1210-0090 SS 404(a) Participant Level Fee Disclosure 7-21-2026.docx
Disclosures for Participant Directed Individual Account Plans