FAQ 132: EFAST2 - Scanned Attachments

Problem: I'm attaching the first two pages of my client's signed Form 5500/5500SF. What should I do when scanning the file as a PDF?

Solution: There is a limitation on the size of submissions sent to EFAST2. The upload feature under the 5500 Attachments screen does not allow single files larger than 4MB to insure that the total filing does not exceed the DOL size limit. In Adobe, there are two options under "Document" to shrink the pdf file size. The "Reduce File Size" limits the backwards compatibility, which is acceptable. The "Optimize scanned PDF" options may also be adjusted to reduce file size. Here are some additional suggestions from the EFAST2 FAQ website: Scanning your document at 300x300 resolution and using True Gray, Grayscale, or Black and White color depth can help to minimize the resulting file size of the PDF. If you are scanning multiple pages and your scanner does not have a document feeder, you will need to scan each page and then combine them into one PDF file for each attachment type. Check that your pages appear in the order you want them prior to saving and submitting them. You should use software that creates a PDF from another application's data file, as this often produces a better quality PDF file and small file size.