States · North Carolina
North Carolina plans that need their first audit
44 retirement plans sponsored by North Carolina employers filed Form 5500-SF for 2025 and ended the year with 121 or more participants with account balances. Under the 80-120 rule they start 2026 above the large-plan threshold, so plan year 2026 is generally their first audited year. That ranks North Carolina number 16 of 53 states and territories on the current forecast list.
Download the free North Carolina sample (PDF)Five forecast plans with sponsor names, the state count and auditor market shares. No sign-up.
44North Carolina plans on the forecast list (44 are 401(k) plans)
136North Carolina plans at 100-120 participants on the watch list
132median participants with balances at the end of 2025
$2.6mmedian net plan assets at the end of 2025
Industries
Who sponsors these plans
Industry of the plan sponsor (NAICS sector) for the 44 forecast plans in North Carolina.
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional services | 10 | 23% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 11% |
| Health care | 5 | 11% |
| Admin & support services | 5 | 11% |
| Construction | 4 | 9% |
| Arts & recreation | 3 | 7% |
Where
Cities with several plans
Charlotte (9), Raleigh (7), Chapel Hill (3), Greensboro (2), Mooresville (2), Rocky Mount (2).
Already audited
New large plans
6 North Carolina plans filed their first Form 5500 in the last season directly as large plans with an auditor's report. They show which firms win new plans from the start.
Auditor market
Who audits employee benefit plans in North Carolina today
287 audit firms signed 1,813 audits of North Carolina plans in the last complete filing year (Schedule H, plan year 2024). The largest by number of plan audits:
| Audit firm | Plan audits | Share in North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Forvis Mazars, LLP | 219 | 12.1% |
| Greerwalker LLP | 96 | 5.3% |
| Smith Leonard PLLC | 85 | 4.7% |
| Cliftonlarsonallen LLP | 78 | 4.3% |
| Bernard Robinson & Company | 71 | 3.9% |
| Thomas, Judy & Tucker, P.A. | 50 | 2.8% |
| Eisneramper LLP | 49 | 2.7% |
| Cherry Bekaert LLP | 44 | 2.4% |
Counted from the accountant firm name and EIN on Schedule H. Firms that merged during the year can appear under the old name.
Timing
Deadlines for the North Carolina plans on the list
For calendar-year plans the first audited Form 5500 (plan year 2026) is due on 31 July 2027, or 15 October 2027 with a Form 5558 extension. Most sponsors engage their auditor after the plan year closes, so the window to introduce your firm is now through early 2027. How the audit requirement works.
The full North Carolina list includes every forecast plan with sponsor, EIN, plan number, city, industry, participant trend, net assets and deadlines, plus the watch list and monthly updates. $290 per year for one state at the founding price, $990 nationwide, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See pricing.
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