FAQ 124: DOL Error --Processing Stopped error message (P-227) but filing listed under ERISA Filing Status website

Problem: We have this error message on a couple of plans. I amended and reinvited the client to sign and walked them through it. They used the correct id and pin but we received a processing stopped error message again. I logged into the DOL website and the form is there and signed. Can you help me with this?

Solution: Filings in "Processing Stopped" are still considered "received" by the government and will be found in the filing search. The PDF of the filing will list the signer's name (based on the User ID on the filing) even if the signer's signature was not valid for the reason explained below. P-227 is an error when the Plan Administrator's USERID and PIN are missing or invalid. The filing must contain this valid information. The USERID and PIN were not missing in this XML. Therefore, because the filing received P-227, the USERID and PIN are invalid for one or more reasons. Common reasons for an "invalid" User ID and/or PIN include a signer with an incomplete EFAST2 registration, a signer entering the incorrect PIN, or a signer entering an User ID that does not have the role of "Filing Signer" selected on the user's User Profile page in EFAST, or a combination of these. In the case of this filing, the Plan Administrator's User ID that was entered for the signature is not yet a "valid" User ID because the user never completed all of the registration steps on the EFAST site. The user needs to go back to www.efast.dol.gov and go to "Login." Since the user never completed all of the registration steps, the user has not yet created a password. So, the user will need to use the "Forgot Password" option to finish the steps. Once completed, it is highly recommended that the user logs in and goes to the User Profile page. On this page, the user can verify that they have the correct 4-digit PIN that they were assigned. Also, the user can verify their roles that are check-marked. The role of "Filing Signer" needs to be selected for their User ID and PIN signature to be considered "valid." After completing the registration process and verifying the roles and PIN, the signer may sign and submit an amended return to update the previously received filing.