DOL Audit Defense.

Alleviate the stress of unexpected Department of Labor (DOL) audits

THE PROBLEM

The threat of a DOL audit weighs heavily on the minds of plan administrators

The DOL selects plans to audit every year, regardless of the sponsor or plan size. These audits may require upwards of 100 hours of unexpected work and $10,000+ in added expenses for plan administrators. The process can be particularly intimidating for small and medium-sized businesses that don’t have in-house legal counsel with experience responding to industry regulators.

OUR SOLUTION

Human Interest gives you peace of mind with up to $50,000 in qualified expense coverage

If your plan gets audited by the DOL, Human Interest can refer you to law firms with DOL audit experience, reimburse you up to $50,000 for qualified plan expenses such as attorney or CPA fees, and help you gather plan documentation that the DOL might request.

A qualified attorney can significantly reduce the time you spend responding to DOL audit requests, which can involve up to a year of back-and-forth communications. Paying for expert advice can reduce stress and it may ultimately save you money negotiating corrections and penalties (if applicable).

This service is available for customers on our Concierge package only

How it works

Access law firms that support plans during a DOL audit

We’ve done the work in vetting law firms specializing in DOL audits, so you don’t have to.

Human Interest helps you gather existing plan documentation

A dedicated Account Manager is here to support you every step of the way, including access to plan documentation requested by the DOL.

Receive reimbursement of up to $50,000 in qualified attorney or CPA expenses

We’ll reimburse up to $50,000 in attorney or CPA fees related to the DOL audit, if they qualify as plan expenses.

See program terms and details

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a DOL audit and the IRS annual audit for large plans?

Retirement plans are subject to random DOL audits to ensure they are in compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which is the primary law governing most retirement programs.

A DOL audit is separate from (and unrelated to) the annual plan audit required of large plans as part of their Form 5500 filing. Generally, plans with 100 or more participants at the beginning of the plan year must attach financial statements audited by an independent qualified public accountant. DOL Audit Defense does not cover these audit expenses.

How do I inform Human Interest that I have received a DOL audit letter?

When should I Human Interest know about the DOL audit?

Do I have to hire an attorney to support a DOL audit?

Do I have to use one of the firms vetted by Human Interest?

What qualifies as a plan expense?

Qualified expenses include:

Attorney fees for services performed for the plan before any allegations of error or wrongdoing
CPA fees for services performed for the plan
Expenses must be listed on an invoice provided by a third-party firm to be reimbursable

The following expenses are not qualified (and will not be reimbursable):

Attorney fees charged after an allegation of error or wrongdoing are not qualified plan expenses.
Any cost related to correcting identified plan issues or errors.

For more information, visit our DOL Audit Defense terms and conditions.

What happens in a typical DOL audit?

If your plan is selected for investigation, you will receive a letter from the DOL notifying you and you may also receive a phone call.

The DOL letter will include an initial document request. You will typically have at least 30 days to provide the list of documents (unless you request an extension). Following the letter, there may be multiple cycles of document requests and interviews.

When the investigation is complete, DOL will provide a final closing letter that may include a list of items that need correction, along with recommended correction methods.