Skip to main content
401kROBSCheck eligibility
Free browser worksheet

Audit-Support Comparison

Compare two to four written ROBS provider audit-support terms without turning support scope into a score, ranking, recommendation, or promise of audit protection.

Direct answer: use this tool when a provider agreement, proposal, or written answer describes what happens if the IRS, DOL, or Form 5500 filing process raises questions. The worksheet keeps documented, unclear, not-included, and not-applicable statuses separate so follow-up questions stay precise.

What the tool does not do

It does not choose a provider, estimate legal exposure, replace an ERISA attorney or CPA, collect leads, store contracts, or claim that provider support prevents audits, penalties, disqualification, or fiduciary liability.

Transcribe written audit-support terms

Use non-sensitive provider labels and short evidence references. Statuses stay separate: unclear means the document does not answer; not included means the document excludes the item; not applicable needs a written reason.

Provider 1

Use a label such as Provider A; do not enter private account, tax, participant, or agency-contact data.

Provider A: IRS plan examination

Written terms say whether support covers an IRS Employee Plans examination or compliance check for the ROBS qualified plan.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: DOL investigation

Written terms say whether support covers an EBSA investigation or fiduciary inquiry.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Form 5500 inquiry

Written terms say whether support covers Form 5500 or EFAST filing questions, notices, or delinquent-filer issues.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Corporate tax audit

Use documented only if the written terms expressly cover corporate income-tax audits or Form 1120 matters.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Trigger and eligibility conditions

Notice timing, client standing, years covered, current administration status, and whether pre-engagement issues are excluded.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Included hours or fee basis

Included hours, flat-fee scope, hourly billing, pass-through professional fees, or quote-required terms.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Document collection support

Who gathers plan, corporate, valuation, payroll, rollover, Form 5500, and correspondence records.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Response preparation

Who drafts or helps prepare written responses and document packages for the agency.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Attendance versus representation

Whether the provider attends calls or meetings, and whether legal or tax representation is excluded or requires separate counsel.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Correction analysis

Whether the provider helps analyze operational, document, filing, valuation, payroll, or prohibited-transaction correction options.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: VCP, EPCRS, or DFVCP preparation

Whether the provider prepares IRS VCP or EPCRS materials, DOL DFVCP filings, and who pays government and professional fees.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Historical records after provider change

Access to prior-year plan records, corporate records, valuations, filings, and correspondence after a provider change or termination.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Response time and escalation

Written contact, response-time target, escalation path, and stale-case handling.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Exclusions and sponsor responsibilities

Pre-engagement issues, sponsor-caused errors, legal or tax representation, valuation, payroll, and corporate filings.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider A: Survival after termination

Whether audit-support duties, records access, and fees survive contract termination or provider replacement.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider 2

Use a label such as Provider A; do not enter private account, tax, participant, or agency-contact data.

Provider B: IRS plan examination

Written terms say whether support covers an IRS Employee Plans examination or compliance check for the ROBS qualified plan.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: DOL investigation

Written terms say whether support covers an EBSA investigation or fiduciary inquiry.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Form 5500 inquiry

Written terms say whether support covers Form 5500 or EFAST filing questions, notices, or delinquent-filer issues.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Corporate tax audit

Use documented only if the written terms expressly cover corporate income-tax audits or Form 1120 matters.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Trigger and eligibility conditions

Notice timing, client standing, years covered, current administration status, and whether pre-engagement issues are excluded.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Included hours or fee basis

Included hours, flat-fee scope, hourly billing, pass-through professional fees, or quote-required terms.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Document collection support

Who gathers plan, corporate, valuation, payroll, rollover, Form 5500, and correspondence records.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Response preparation

Who drafts or helps prepare written responses and document packages for the agency.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Attendance versus representation

Whether the provider attends calls or meetings, and whether legal or tax representation is excluded or requires separate counsel.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Correction analysis

Whether the provider helps analyze operational, document, filing, valuation, payroll, or prohibited-transaction correction options.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: VCP, EPCRS, or DFVCP preparation

Whether the provider prepares IRS VCP or EPCRS materials, DOL DFVCP filings, and who pays government and professional fees.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Historical records after provider change

Access to prior-year plan records, corporate records, valuations, filings, and correspondence after a provider change or termination.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Response time and escalation

Written contact, response-time target, escalation path, and stale-case handling.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Exclusions and sponsor responsibilities

Pre-engagement issues, sponsor-caused errors, legal or tax representation, valuation, payroll, and corporate filings.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Provider B: Survival after termination

Whether audit-support duties, records access, and fees survive contract termination or provider replacement.

Use a bounded reference such as service agreement section 8 or email dated Aug. 12. Do not paste private facts.

Notes record what the document says or why N/A applies. They do not become provider claims.

Providers compared

2

Complete status rows

0 / 30

Rows with differences

0

Provider readiness counts

Completeness counts documented, not included, and justified not applicable rows. It is not a quality score, rank, recommendation, or audit-protection estimate.

Provider A

Documented
0
Unclear
15
Not included
0
Not applicable
0

Provider B

Documented
0
Unclear
15
Not included
0
Not applicable
0

IRS plan examination

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

DOL investigation

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Form 5500 inquiry

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Corporate tax audit

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Trigger and eligibility conditions

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Included hours or fee basis

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Document collection support

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Response preparation

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Attendance versus representation

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Correction analysis

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

VCP, EPCRS, or DFVCP preparation

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Historical records after provider change

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Response time and escalation

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Exclusions and sponsor responsibilities

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Survival after termination

Provider A
Unclear
Provider B
Unclear

Step-by-step contract transcription

  1. Open each service agreement, proposal, audit-support rider, support policy, or written provider answer.
  2. Use a non-sensitive label such as Provider A, Provider B, or the provider name if you are comfortable.
  3. For each dimension, choose documented only when the written text directly answers that dimension.
  4. Choose unclear when the document is silent, vague, conditional without details, or mixed across different pages.
  5. Choose not included when the text excludes that support or says it is billed separately.
  6. Choose not applicable only when the written facts make the dimension irrelevant, then enter the reason.
  7. Record a bounded evidence reference such as section, page, exhibit, or email date instead of pasting private facts.

How to interpret missing and red-flag terms

A complete worksheet is not a favorable result. It only means each row has a documented, excluded, or justified not-applicable status. Red flags include support limited to record retrieval, audit language that covers only corporate tax filings, support that ends at termination, no response-time contact, undefined professional fees, and exclusions for errors the sponsor caused.

Unclear terms deserve follow-up because IRS ROBS materials describe plan-level questions about filings, valuation, rollover records, participant information, and business records [1]. DOL fiduciary guidance separately emphasizes fiduciary duties, prudence, plan-document compliance, conflicts, and potential fiduciary liability [4]. A provider may help organize records while still excluding legal representation, tax representation, valuation defense, payroll corrections, or fiduciary decision-making.

Audit, correction, and representation boundaries

Audit support

May include document collection, issue triage, response package help, and provider attendance if written.

Correction work

May involve SCP, VCP, Audit CAP, or DFVCP analysis. IRS and DOL programs have eligibility, timing, fee, and penalty limits [3] [5].

Representation

Legal or tax representation means advocacy by an authorized professional. Do not infer it from general support wording.

Worked examples

Complete but mixed: Provider A documents IRS plan-exam support, document collection, and a five-business-day response target, but excludes DOL investigations and legal representation. That is complete for those rows, not a higher score.

Unclear: Provider B says “audit help included” but does not identify IRS plan examination, DOL investigation, Form 5500 inquiry, hours, fees, corrections, or representation. Mark those rows unclear and request written details.

Not applicable: If a provider’s written answer says corporate tax-audit support is outside the ROBS administration contract and you are comparing only plan-administration support, mark corporate tax audit not applicable only with that written reason.

Authorship, current date, disclosures, and privacy

Author: Dennis Shirshikov. Published and last modified Aug. 13, 2026. The tool is educational and source-bounded. It is not legal, tax, fiduciary, valuation, or audit representation advice.

Privacy: the worksheet has no account, provider quote request, server submission, query-string sharing, cookies, or browser storage. Enter short references, not tax IDs, plan numbers, account balances, agency letters, participant names, or attorney-client communications.

Sources

  1. IRS ROBS compliance project

    IRS describes ROBS compliance-check questions about recordkeeping, rollover or transfer information, participants, stock valuation, business information, and missing Form 5500, Form 5500-EZ, or Form 1120 filings. Page last reviewed Nov. 16, 2025; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  2. IRS ROBS guidelines memorandum

    IRS states ROBS arrangements are not noncompliant per se and must be developed on a case-by-case basis, with issues including qualification, valuation, prohibited transactions, and coverage. Dated Oct. 1, 2008; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  3. IRS EPCRS overview

    IRS explains SCP, VCP, and Audit CAP, including that VCP is before audit, uses Pay.gov, requires a user fee, and Audit CAP applies while a plan is under audit. Page last reviewed July 31, 2026; checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  4. DOL fiduciary responsibilities

    DOL states ERISA fiduciaries must act solely in participants' and beneficiaries' interests, act prudently, follow plan documents consistent with ERISA, diversify investments, avoid conflicts, and may be personally liable for breaches. Checked Aug. 13, 2026.

  5. DOL DFVCP

    DOL says DFVCP lets plan administrators voluntarily submit overdue annual reports while paying lower civil penalties, but it does not waive all DOL penalties, has eligibility limits, and does not relieve fiduciary responsibilities. Checked Aug. 13, 2026.