The online Demos and annual premium filing instructions are the best place to get help. To help you keep current and file timely, we suggest that you sign up for the following email update:
- What's New for Practitioners: This will alert you to changes that may impact your filings and dealings with PBGC.
If you still have questions, call 1-800-736-2444 or 202-229-4242 (select the "premium" option) or send an email to premiums@pbgc.gov. (TTY/ASCII users may call 711.) PBGC's business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
To use My PAA, you must first establish an account that will include your username and password, your secret question/answer, and at least one plan for which premiums will be filed. If you do not have a My PAA account use this link and if you had an account in the previous My PAA use this demo.
The primary password requirements include:
Change your password often but not more than once per day; and make it different from your previous passwords.
· It must be between 13 and 24 characters and contain at least 1 uppercase character, 1 lowercase character, 1 number and 1 special character.
· Once your password is created:
If you forget your username or password, review the Request Username and Password KMT.
- Once your account is established, you can make changes to your name, telephone number, email address, and password. To make a change, click your email address at the top right corner of any page, and select "Account Settings" link.
If you no longer need your My PAA account, view the Online Demo. This will remove any plans and deactivate your account.
The name of each plan is displayed on the Plan List and Plan Details pages. To make changes to the Plan Name, Admin or address view the Plan Details Demo.
There may be one person or several people involved with preparing, signing, and paying a plan's premium filing in My PAA. To make this process run smoothly in My PAA, each plan/sponsor designates a person (preferably more than one) who will be the filing coordinator for the plan. The filing coordinator is the person who oversees the premium filing process, ensures that filings are submitted timely, and performs administrative tasks in My PAA. For details, see the My PAA online Demos and to understand the differences in the Roles.
To become a plan's filing coordinator, you must have an account (e.g., username & password) and have the plan added to your account along with the filing coordinator role. When this is done, the plan will show on your Plan List page and your name and permissions will be reflected on the Plan Details Page (in Team Members section).
Filing has business rules that require certain people to perform certain tasks. For details, see the My PAA online Demos and Roles KMT.
Backup Filers are Recommended — It is strongly recommended that there be one or more back-ups for all filing roles/permissions (e.g., plan administrator/pa representative, enrolled actuary, payer, filing coordinator) to help ensure continuity as people go on vacation or leave the company. (Note that when a plan is initially added to a filing coordinator's account, there may be a delay before the filing coordinator can add another filing coordinator.) As changes occur to the team of people available to contribute to a plan's filing, the filing coordinator makes changes to the filing team members (e.g., permissions may be changed and practitioners may be added to, or deleted from, the plan's filing team).
The primary ways to access an in-process filing (that was created in the My PAA screens or imported into the editing screens) are from the Plan List Page, In-Process Page and Plan Details Page.
The premium filing certification requirements have not changed.
For filings that are prepared via the My PAA data entry screens and for filings that are imported into the My PAA screens, all certifications are made on the My PAA screens.
For software-prepared filings that are uploaded into My PAA, the plan administrator or enrolled actuary may certify directly on the My PAA upload screen if he/she is the uploader. If the plan administrator or enrolled actuary is not the uploader, the certification is typically made on a paper copy of the filing information printed from the software prior to uploading the filing. For each uploaded filing, the name and contact information of the plan administrator and actuary who have certified the filing is reported in the certification section of the filing (within the XML filing data). Certified copies of filing information are subject to audit and must be retained with plan records for six years from the due date of the filing (they are not submitted to PBGC). For details about the certification requirements, refer to the My PAA Demos.
For filings created in My PAA's data entry and editing screens or imported into My PAA's editing screens, only the plan administrator/pa representative can submit filings to PBGC. The Plan Admin or Plan Admin Representative will see the Approve/Reject button on the Filing Details Page if the Filing Status is Pending Admin Approval. This means that the filing is complete, certified by Actuary, if required, and that a payment method has been selected.
For Software prepared filings that will be uploaded to PBGC, the upload submission process can be found at this link.
My PAA will display a confirmation to the submitter that shows the date that PBGC received the filing/file. In addition, an email will be sent to all practitioners on the plan’s filing team confirming that the filing was submitted to PBGC.
To view a plan's filings and payments on the plan's Account History, a person must have a My PAA account and have the plan in his/her account (for plans that have not been trusteed by PBGC).
To help filings and payments post more quickly to your account history, be sure to submit accurate and complete information. For example, if your payment does not include the plan's EIN/PN and PYC in the required format, it will not automatically post to your account. This may cause a delay in processing if additional research is needed.
EIN/PN changes should always be reported via a premium filing and should not be handled by adding the new EIN/PN to your account.
- If the plan is in your My PAA account under the prior EIN/PN, do not add the plan to your account with the new EIN/PN.
- If the plan is not in your My PAA account, you will need to add the plan to your account using the old EIN/PN.
- Next, create a filing by clicking "Create Filing" next to the plan with the old EIN/PN. The old EIN/PN will automatically populate the "Previous EIN" and "Previous PN" fields and you should enter the new EIN/PN in the "Current EIN" and "Current PN" fields.
- After the filing is submitted and processed, a plan page with the new EIN/PN will display in your My PAA account. You will see it listed in the "Plans in Your My PAA Account" section of your Plan List in place of the previous EIN/PN. You will be able to view filings for the previous EIN/PN on this page.
- Plan correspondence regarding the filing that shows the EIN/PN change (confirmation letters, statements of Account, error notices, etc.) can be found on the Plan Page associated with the new EIN/PN.
- If an EIN/PN is being changed to the EIN/PN of another existing plan, the change should be reported as a merger, consolidation, or spinoff rather than as an EIN/PN change. If you show the change as an EIN/PN change, you will receive a My PAA error message to correct the entry in order to proceed with the filing.
Once a filing is submitted, that specific filing cannot be pulled back or changed. Any changes or corrections must be submitted via an amended filing. To amend a filing, you must prepare and submit a new filing with the amended filing block checked. For example, if you use My PAA's data entry screens to prepare a filing, you click the "Create Filing" button to prepare a new filing for the plan. On the Plan Year Details page, check the amended filing box to identify the filing as an amended filing. The amended filing must be fully completed because it will replace the previously-submitted filing.
While an amended filing should be created and submitted to reflect most changes (e.g., a change in the participant count or address), an amended filing is not required for non-substantive changes such as a change in the type of payment that will be submitted outside of My PAA (e.g., if you subsequently decide to send a paper check rather than send an electronic funds transfer to PBGC).
If you have a My PAA account, you have a Home Page. If you have a plan in your account, you have a Plan Details Page. If you have a My PAA screen filing or an imported filing that is in process, you have a In-Process Filing Page. If you have attempted to upload a filing, you have an Upload History page.
Home Page
The Home Page is displayed upon log in. The Home Page displays five icons, (1) Create New Plan / Add Existing Plan (2) Plan List (3) In-Process (4) Upload Filings and (5) View Upload History and serves as your "base of operations" for all My PAA activities. On the Home Page, there is also search box to enter key words to get more information about how to perform actions.
Create New Plan / Add Existing Plan
This icon is to add a new plan to your My PAA account, that does not have a Filing Coordinator or is a new plan that does not exist in My PAA select the Create New lan / Add Existing Plan icon, and provide the relevant details so that you can submit the filing, review this demo for details.
Plan List Page
Each plan in your account has a Plan Page, which you access by selecting the appropriate Plan Details link in the Plan List. If you have the Filing Preparer role for a plan, you can also create a filing from the Create Filing button.
In-Process Page
The In-Process Page is only populated if there are My PAA screen-prepared or imported filings in process that have not yet been submitted to PBGC. To access the In-Process Page, select the In-process icon on your Home Page. The plan's filing team members can view an in-process filing by selecting the Filing Details button for the filing. However, only the Filing Preparer can edit the filing.
Upload Filings
The Upload Filings icon allows the upload preparer to upload filings in My PAA. For more details on the upload process select this link.
View Upload History
The View Upload History icon allows users to see Uploads. For more details on the upload process, review the How to View Upload History My Plan Administration Account (My PAA) guide.
To submit an accurate and complete premium filing, you must report the data in accordance with each plan year's premium filing instructions. Here are some filing reminders, primarily from the Comprehensive Filing instructions:
- File and Pay Timely and Properly: A filing includes both the submission of required data and the payment of any required premium and must be made by the due date. To help ensure the correct posting of the payment:
- If you pay online, be sure to enter the correct account number and bank routing number (e.g., the 9 digit routing or ACH R/T number on your check).
- A separate payment must be made for each plan and must reference the plan's EIN/PN and PYC. If you pay by check, make the check payable to "Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation."
- Be sure to use the most current payment addresses displayed on our website for all plan year filings (including prior plan year filings).
- The earlier you file the better. In some instances, this will allow plans to be notified about filing errors in time to correct the filing by the due date.
- Report Accurate and Complete Information: Be sure to answer all questions and provide all information requested, for example:
- Dates should include a 4-digit year (e.g., 01/01/2015).
- Report and/or confirm the plan effective date for all plans. The same date must be consistently reported on a plan’s filings.
- Enter appropriate data in every field based on the format examples, e.g., only use numbers without spaces for an online payment’s Account Number and Routing Number.
- Answer all related questions if you report that the plan is new or newly covered (e.g., adoption date).
- Report the names and contact information that we should use if there are questions about the filing, e.g., for the "attention" line of mailings and for an additional plan contact.
- Review the data (and any warnings) a final time right before the filing is submitted.
- Alternative Premium Funding Target Election: A plan may elect to use the "alternative premium funding target" by checking the box in the "Alternative Premium Funding Target Election" section of the Comprehensive Filing and submitting the filing by the premium due date. Once a plan has made the election to use the alternative premium funding target, this election cannot be revoked for any premium payment year that begins less than five calendar years after the beginning of the premium payment year for which the election was made. If an election is in effect, do not make an election again. If you are uncertain about the status of your election (e.g., whether an election is in effect), review the plan’s online account history or send an email to premiums@pbgc.gov with the plan's name, employer identification number (EIN), and plan number (PN). PBGC will reply with the status of your election.
- Alternative Premium Funding Target Revocation: A plan may revoke a prior election to use the Alternative Premium Funding Target if the election has been in effect for at least five years. Revocations must be made properly and timely, and must remain in place for at least five years. The plan will be required to use the Standard Premium Funding Target while the Revocation is in effect.
- UVB Valuation Date: Be sure to report the proper UVB valuation date which is used to determine unfunded vested benefits.
- Premium Funding Target Method: The method selected must be in sync with the Alternative Premium Funding Target Election or Revocation:
- The standard method must be used if an election was not previously made, an election was not made on the current filing, or an election is revoked.
- The alternative method must be used if an election was previously made or made on the current filing.
- Starting plan year 2014, all plans have the option to report the premium funding target as an estimate. In addition, the estimated VRP must be reconciled in a timely manner.
- Segment Rates: If a plan is using the standard premium funding target method, the filing must include all three segments for the discount rates. If the plan is using the alternative premium funding target method, the filing must include either all three segment rates OR a selection that the full yield curve was used.
- For the standard method, these rates must be the segment rates for the month preceding the month in which the Premium Payment Year begins, as shown on PBGC’s website.
- For the alternative method, use IRS-issued 24-month average segment rates acceptable for the UVB valuation date reported OR check the box to report that the full yield curve was used.
- Amended Filing: If you are making changes to a previously-submitted filing, check the amended filing box and answer fully the amended filing questions. A Variable-rate Premium reconciliation filling (in which you provide final Premium Funding Target information after having reported an estimated Premium Funding Target) is also considered to be an amended filing. An amended filing should include all valid filing data from the previously-submitted filing (e.g., an election or revocation if appropriate). If an amended filing is submitted by the due date, information may be changed if appropriate (e.g., an election or revocation).
- Reporting Dollar Amounts: Assets and liabilities being reported should be in whole numbers only, no cents. Premium, premium credits, the amount due PBGC, and the amount of any overpayment should be in dollars and cents.
- Treatment of Overpayment: If a filing indicates that the plan has an overpayment, the filer must choose whether to have the overpayment credited toward the next year's premium for the plan or refunded (by EFT or check). If EFT, the filer must provide the banking information requested.
- Submit the Filing and Print Receipt: Be sure that you have successfully submitted the filing to PBGC. If you (or other team members) have the plan in your account, you can view the Plan Details Page or Filing Details Page to see the filing receipt that shows the date that PBGC received the filing along with all the filing data submitted. It is also suggested that you review the plan’s Account History to verify the posting of the filing/payment and to verify that the plan year is paid in full.
- Final Filing: If you report that this is the plan's final filing, be sure to complete and submit any additional required filings/information to PBGC. For example, if the plan will terminate in a standard termination, the appropriate standard termination forms must be submitted to PBGC.
We use the following contact information that is reported on the premium filing in the sections called "Plan Administrator Information" and "Additional Plan Contact (optional)":
- We send official correspondence to the Plan Administrator's name and address and include the Contact Person's name in the "attention" line of mailings.
- If we have questions about the filing, we call or send an email to the person identified as the Contact Person.
- If we cannot reach the primary contacts, we call or email the person identified as the Additional Plan Contact (optional).
A computer incident is a violation or suspected violation of common information security practices, such as the following examples:
- Attempts to gain unauthorized access;
- Unauthorized use of electronic resources;
- Unauthorized modification of data, software, or configurations;
- Compromised account information (e.g., stolen password, etc.); or
- Loss or theft of IT hardware or information.
To report a suspected or known computer incident regarding My PAA, contact PBGC’s service representatives at premiums@pbgc.gov or 1-800-736-2444 and select the “premium” option.