Employee Benefits Security Administration September 11, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document requests information from the public concerning the advisability of amending Interpretive Bulletin 75-9 (29 CFR 2509.75-9) relating to guidelines on independence of accountants retained by employee benefit plans under section 103(a)(3)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Under ERISA, unless otherwise exempt, the plan administrator is required to retain on behalf of all plan participants an ``independent qualified public accountant'' to examine the financial statements of the plan and render an opinion as to whether the financial statements and schedules required to be included in the plan's annual report are presented fairly in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The purpose of this notice is to obtain information to assist the Department of Labor in evaluating whether and to what extent Interpretive Bulletin 75-9 provides adequate guidance to meet the needs of plan administrators, other plan fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries, accountants, and other affected parties on when a qualified public accountant is independent.