First Audit Radar
States · North Dakota

North Dakota plans that need their first audit

9 retirement plans sponsored by North Dakota 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 Dakota number 42 of 53 states and territories on the current forecast list.

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9North Dakota plans on the forecast list (9 are 401(k) plans)
24North Dakota plans at 100-120 participants on the watch list
137median participants with balances at the end of 2025
$2.8mmedian net plan assets at the end of 2025
Industries

Who sponsors these plans

Industry of the plan sponsor (NAICS sector) for the 9 forecast plans in North Dakota.

IndustryPlansShare
Construction222%
Health care222%
Transportation111%
Retail111%
Manufacturing111%
Wholesale trade111%
Where

Cities with several plans

Fargo (3), West Fargo (3).

Already audited

New large plans

0 North Dakota 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 Dakota today

37 audit firms signed 280 audits of North Dakota plans in the last complete filing year (Schedule H, plan year 2024). The largest by number of plan audits:

Audit firmPlan auditsShare in North Dakota
Eide Bailly LLP10236.4%
Brady, Martz & Associates, P.C.7526.8%
Widmer Roel PC217.5%
Cliftonlarsonallen LLP93.2%
Brady Martz, PLLC93.2%
Deloitte & Touche LLP82.9%
Grant Thornton LLP51.8%
Forvis Mazars, LLP51.8%

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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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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