EBP Audits 2026: How CPA Firms Can Avoid Compliance Risks with Early Planning
If July 31 isn't already flagged in your firm's calendar, now is the time. For CPA firms managing multiple clients with calendar-year plans, the Form 5500 filing deadline arrives faster than it should, and the firms that feel it most are the ones that waited too long to start. Employee benefit plan audits are one of the most technically demanding, deadline-sensitive engagements in public accounting. They require deep ERISA audit support , meticulous documentation, and careful coordination across multiple parties. And in 2026, with SECURE 2.0 changes still rippling through plan operations and regulators sharpening their focus on compliance accuracy, the stakes are higher than ever. This is not the season to win it. Why EBP Audit Season 2026 Is Different Every year brings its share of EBP audit complexity. But 2026 has added a few new layers that CPA firms need to account for, literally and figuratively. ● SECURE 2.0 Is Still Reshaping Plan Operations The SECURE 2.0 Act con...
