2021 RIA Compliance Calendar & Filing Deadlines
Don’t miss a compliance deadline this year! We have put together a calendar to help you keep track of regulatory filing deadlines for 2021. You might want to bookmark this one and also make sure you are on our deadline reminder list!
2021 SEC Regulatory Deadlines for Investment Advisers
The filing deadlines are listed below in chronological order, with additional details of RIA form and filing obligations toward the end.**NOTE:
This resource does not address all potential regulatory reporting and compliance obligations.
It is based on a fiscal year end of December 31st. If your firm does not have a December 31st fiscal year end, the dates will need to be adjusted for some filings, including Form ADV and Form PF.
Filing Deadlines in January 2021
January 2, 2021
Final Statement Issued for Registration/Notice Filings
FINRA will issue their final invoice, reconciling any amendments you made from the preliminary invoice issued in November. If any differences are present, your firm may request a refund or pay additional fees. If there are no changes, there is nothing more for you to do at this point.
Final payments are due January 22, 2021, if additional funds are owed. FINRA will resume issuing refund checks on January 25, 2021.https://www.iard.com/renewal-program
January 10, 2021
Form 13H Quarterly Filing for Changes
Form 13H (large trader) quarterly filing is due “promptly” for the calendar quarter end Q4 2020 for advisers that already have a Form 13H filing obligation and have changes to any of the information reported. SEC FAQ
January 15, 2021
Form PF for Large Liquidity Fund Advisers
Large liquidity fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 15 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.) SEC FAQ
January 31, 2021
NFA's Swaps Proficiency Requirements Deadline
The Compliance Date to satisfy NFA's Swaps Proficiency Requirements is January 31, 2021. Any individual registered as an associated person (AP) of a futures commission merchant (FCM), introducing broker (IB), commodity pool operator (CPO) or commodity trading advisor (CTA) who engages in swaps activity subject to the CFTC's jurisdiction. All such persons are required to satisfy the Swaps Proficiency Requirements regardless of whether they would qualify for a waiver from NFA’s other proficiency requirements.
Filing Deadlines in February 2021
February 14, 2021
Form 13F
Form 13F (institutional manager) quarterly filing for Q4 2020 is due within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The due date falls on a Sunday in 2021, we recommend filing the Friday prior. SEC Fast Answers | SEC FAQ
Form 13H Annual Amendment
Form 13H (large trader) annual amendment is due 45 days after calendar year end for advisers that already have a Form 13H filing obligation. Any subsequent updates are due within 10 days after each calendar quarter end.
CTA Form PR
Form PR is required to be filed with the National Futures Association (“NFA”) for registered Commodity Trading Advisors. The Form PR report for the calendar year ended December 31, 2020 must be filed electronically using NFA’s EasyFile System within 45 days of the CTA’s calendar year end.
Form 13D & 13G Annual Amendment
Annual amendments are due for advisers that have changes to disclosure information on previously filed 13D or 13G forms.
Filing Deadlines in March 2021
March 1, 2021
Form PF for Large Hedge Fund Advisers
Large hedge fund advisers must file Form PF within 60 days of each fiscal quarter end on the IARD system. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
Form PF Initial Filing for Large Hedge Fund Advisers that have reached $1.5 billion
Large hedge fund advisers with greater than $1.5 billion in regulatory assets under management (“RAUM”), attributable to hedge funds as of December 31, 2020 must make an initial filing. The initial quarterly Form PF filing is due within 60 days of fiscal quarter end if an adviser’s hedge fund RAUM exceeds $1.5 billion as of the previous fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
CPO and CTA Exemptions
Firms that claimed exemptions from Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) registration under CFTC Rule 4.5 or CFTC Rule 4.13(a)(3) (the “de minimis exemption”), or Rules 4.13(a)(1), 4.13(a)(2), 4.13(a)(5), and firms that claimed an exemption from Commodity Trading Advisor (“CTA”) registration pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.14(a)(8) must re-affirm those exemptions on an annual basis, within 60 days of the fiscal year end, or those exemptions will be automatically withdrawn.
CPO-PQR Forms
Large Commodity Pool Operator (AUM greater than $1.5 billion) Form CPO-PQR (December 31st calendar quarter-end report) is required to be filed with the NFA for Commodity Pool Operators. This is due 60 days following the quarter end.
March 31, 2021
CPO-PQR Forms
Small and Mid-Sized Commodity Pool Operators are required to file their December 31st calendar quarter-end report with the NFA on Form CPO-PQR. Small Commodity Pool Operators (AUM less than $150 million) are required to file Schedule A of CFTC Form CPO-PQR. Mid-Sized Commodity Pool Operators (AUM greater than $150 million) are required to file Schedule A and Schedule B. This is due 90 days after the quarter end.
IARD Fees
SEC-registered advisers and exempt reporting advisers are required to pay IARD fees before the submission of the Form ADV annual amendment. (This should be done several days prior to submission.)
Form ADV Part 1 - Annual Updating Amendment
Existing registered advisers must update their Form ADV (Parts 1A and 2A) within 90 days of their fiscal year end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)Reminder! The filing fee must be deposited into the adviser’s IARD account before the filing can be submitted. Fees should be paid several days prior to ensure you can submit your filing on time.
Form ADV Part 2B
Registered investment advisers should review their Form ADV Part 2B Brochure Supplements to ensure continued accuracy.
State Filings
A registered investment adviser and an exempt reporting adviser may be required to make a state notice filing, called “Notice Filings,” in any state in which an adviser has a specified number of clients. Notice filings may be made on Form ADV Part 1 by checking the relevant box and depositing the appropriate state fees into the adviser’s IARD account. Exempt reporting advisers may also be required to register as an investment adviser in some states. Notice filing and investment adviser registration requirements differ from state to state. Each adviser should check the requirements for any relevant state in which it operates or has clients.
Filing Deadlines in April 2021
April 9, 2021
Form 13H Quarterly Filing for Changes
Form 13H (large trader) quarterly filing is due promptly for the calendar quarter end Q1 2021 for advisers that already have a Form 13H filing obligation and have changes to any of the information reported.
April 15, 2021
Form PF for Large Liquidity Fund Advisers
Large liquidity fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 15 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
ERISA Schedule C of DOL Form 5500 Disclosure
An adviser may be required to report certain information to its ERISA plan clients and investors for their use in completing Department of Labor Form 5500, including information about compensation received with respect to ERISA plan assets that the adviser manages or that are invested in the adviser’s funds. If you have ERISA plan clients, we recommend that you file this disclosure in April, as ERISA plan clients must file Form 5500 by July 31, 2021.
April 30, 2021
Form PF Filing Fee
Advisers required to file Form PF by April 30, 2021 should ensure IARD filing fees have been paid before filing is due. This should be done several days prior to submission.
Form PF
Form PF initial filing is due within 120 days of fiscal year end for private fund advisers that are not large hedge fund advisers or large liquidity fund advisers and manage more than $150 million in regulatory assets under management (“RAUM”), attributable to private funds as of December 31, 2020. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
Form PF Annual Amendment
Form PF Annual Amendment is due within 120 days of fiscal year end for private fund advisers that are not large hedge fund advisers or large liquidity fund advisers and manage more than $150 million in regulatory assets under management, attributable to private funds. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
Form ADV Part 2A Delivery
120 days after SEC-registered advisers’ fiscal year end, registered investment advisers that have made material changes to Form ADV Part 2A are required to deliver to each client either an updated Form ADV Part 2A that includes a summary of material changes (or is accompanied by such a summary) or a summary of material changes with an offer to provide a copy of the updated 2A and information on how to obtain the Form ADV Part 2A. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
Distribute Audited Financial Statements for Private Funds
Private fund investment advisers should have their funds audited by an independent, PCAOB-registered accountant and provide audited financial statements of their funds, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, to the funds’ investors within 120 days of the end of the funds’ fiscal year (for funds with a December 31st fiscal year end, the date is April 30, 2021). Investment advisers that do not have their private funds audited should determine whether they are deemed to have custody of those funds’ assets and therefore are subject to an annual surprise audit and other requirements.Note: The deadline for private funds that are fund of funds is 180 days of the funds’ fiscal year end. (June 29, 2021 for funds with a December 31st fiscal year end.)
Filing Deadlines in May 2021
May 15, 2021
Form 13F
Form 13F quarterly filing is due for Q1 2021 within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The due date falls on a Saturday in 2021, we recommend filing on the Friday prior.
CTA Form PR
Form PR is required to be filed by CTAs quarterly with the NFA within 45 days following each calendar quarter-end.
May 30, 2021
Form PF for Large Hedge Fund Advisers
Large hedge fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 60 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.) The due date falls on a Sunday in 2021, so we recommend filing the Friday prior.
CPO-PQR Form
Commodity Pool Operator Form CPO-PQR required to be filed with the NFA for Commodity Pool Operators within 60 days of calendar quarter end. The due date falls on a Sunday in 2021, so we recommend filing the Friday prior.
Filing Deadlines in June 2021
June 30, 2021
GIPS Notification Requirement
Annually, firms that comply with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) must notify the CFA Institute of their firm’s claim of compliance. The notification must be submitted annually on the GIPS website by June 30th.
Filing Deadlines in July 2021
July 9, 2021
Form 13H Quarterly Filing for Changes
Form 13H (large trader) quarterly filing is due promptly for the calendar quarter end Q2 2021 for advisers that already have a Form 13H filing obligation and have changes to any of the information reported.
July 15, 2021
Form PF for Large Liquidity Fund Advisers
Large liquidity fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 15 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
Filing Deadlines in August 2021
August 14, 2021
Form 13F
Form 13F quarterly filing is due for 2Q 2021 within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The due date falls on a Saturday in 2021, we recommend filing the Friday prior.
CTA Form PR
Form PR is required to be filed by CTAs quarterly with the NFA within 45 days following each calendar quarter end.
August 29, 2021
Form PF for Large Hedge Fund Advisers
Large hedge fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 60 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.) The due date falls on a Sunday in 2021, so we recommend filing the Friday prior.
CPO-PQR Form
Commodity Pool Operator Form CPO-PQR is required to be filed with the NFA for Commodity Pool Operators within 60 days of calendar quarter end. The due date falls on a Sunday in 2021, so we recommend filing the Friday prior.
Filing Deadlines in October 2021
October 8, 2021
Form 13H Quarterly Filing for Changes
Form 13H (large trader) quarterly filing is due promptly for the calendar quarter end Q3 2021 for advisers that already have a Form 13H filing obligation and have changes to any of the information reported.
October 15, 2021
Form PF for Large Liquidity Fund Advisers
Large liquidity fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 15 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
Filing Deadlines in November 2021
November 14, 2021
Form 13F
13F quarterly filing is due for 3Q 2021 within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The due date falls on a Sunday in 2021, we recommend filing the Friday prior.SEC Fast Answers | SEC FAQ
CTA Form PR
Form PR is required to be filed by CTAs quarterly with the NFA within 45 days following each calendar quarter-end.
Preliminary Statements are Issued for Registration/Notice Filings
FINRA will release a preliminary statement mid-November. Watch out for this release because it reflects all approved registrations/notice filings for your firm. You must pay the invoice in full by mid-December, but If you have IARs that no longer need to be registered or states you no longer need to notice file in and you do not want to pay the fees for them, then you need to make applicable changes before the last week in December. Doing so will help you avoid unnecessary charges and file for a refund in January!
November 29, 2021
Form PF for Large Hedge Fund Advisers
Large hedge fund advisers must file Form PF with the SEC on the IARD system within 60 days of each fiscal quarter end. (This due date assumes a fiscal year end of December 31st and may need to be adjusted according to your firm’s fiscal year end.)
CPO-PQR Form
Commodity Pool Operator Form CPO-PQR is required to be filed with the NFA for Commodity Pool Operators within 60 days of calendar quarter end.
Filing Deadlines in December 2021
December 13, 2021
Payments Due for Preliminary Statement Issued for Registration/Notice Filings
This FINRA statement reflects all approved registrations and notice filings of the firm and investment advisory representatives. You must pay the invoice in full at this time. However, if you have IARs that no longer need to be registered or states you no longer need to notice file in and you do not want to pay the fees for them, then you need to make applicable changes before the last week in December. Doing so will help you avoid unnecessary charges and file for a refund in January!
December 22, 2021
Deadline to File an Other-Than-Annual Amendment for State Registration
This is the last day the FINRA website will allow you to adjust your other-than-annual amendment in relation to state registration. Failure to make these changes before this date will make you ineligible for a refund when the final invoice drops in January.
Click the link below for more information on FINRA’s renewal program:https://www.iard.com/renewal-program
December 31, 2021
Final Statement Issued for Registration/Notice Filings
FINRA will issue their final invoice in the first week of January, and if it differs from the preliminary invoice sent in mid-November of this year, your firm may now request a refund.
Click the link below for more information on FINRA’s renewal program:https://www.iard.com/renewal-program
General and Ongoing Obligations:
Form ADV Part 1 – Annual Updating Amendment
Investment advisers must amend Part 1 of their Form ADV promptly during the year if information becomes materially inaccurate, unless the inaccuracies result solely from changes in the amount of client assets managed or changes to the fee schedule.
Form ADV Part 2A
An investment adviser registered with the SEC must provide the ADV Part 2A to a client before or at the time of entering into an advisory agreement with the client. Update and file ADV Part 2A promptly whenever any information becomes materially inaccurate; no update is required in between annual amendments solely to change amount of client assets or fee schedule. Deliver interim amendments if the amendment includes disciplinary information (Item 9). If there are any material changes to your ADV Part 2A either a) deliver a summary of material changes with an offer to provide the complete ADV Part 2A upon request or b) provide the ADV Part 2A with the summary of material changes, within 120 days following the firm’s fiscal year-end.
Form ADV Part 2B
If an adviser is required to deliver a Form ADV Part 2B, that document should be prepared for certain supervised persons providing advisory services to clients. Advisers are required to deliver all relevant Form ADV Part 2Bs before or at the time the supervised person begins to provide advisory services to the client. Advisers are also required to deliver any newly relevant Part 2Bs to existing clients. Update 2Bs promptly whenever any information becomes materially inaccurate. For example, if the members of an investment team change, then the Form ADV Part 2B must be updated. Advisers are required to deliver updates to Part 2Bs that amend disciplinary information (Item 3). Under the adviser’s ongoing fiduciary obligation, advisers should disclose material changes that do not trigger delivery, i.e., material changes other than to disciplinary information, between annual updating amendments.
Form ADV Part 3 / Form CRS
If an adviser is required to deliver a Form CRS to its Retail Investors, that document must be amended within 30 days whenever any information becomes materially inaccurate. You must communicate any changes to existing clients within 60 days, including a summary of those most recent changes. You must also deliver the most recent relationship summary to a retail investor who is an existing client or customer before or at the time you: (i) open a new account that is different from the retail investor’s existing account(s); (ii) recommend that the retail investor roll over assets from a retirement account into a new or existing account or investment; or (iii) recommend or provide a new brokerage or investment advisory service or investment that does not necessarily involve the opening of a new account and would not be held in an existing account, for example, the first-time purchase of a direct-sold mutual fund or insurance product that is a security through a “check and application” process, i.e., not held directly within an account. You also must deliver the relationship summary to a retail investor within 30 days upon the retail investor’s request.
Form 13H
“Large trader report” must be filed for traders of U.S.-listed equities trading 2 million shares or $20 million on any day or 20 million shares or $200 million in any month. Advisers should monitor trading and file initial Form 13H no later than 10 days after reaching the threshold level. Advisers are required to amend promptly each quarter if there are any changes to report. Annual filing date is 45 days after the end of each full calendar year.
Advisers to ERISA Plans
Disclosure of Reasonable Contract or Arrangement under Section 408(b)(2) to ERISA plan clients. The Department of Labor requires investment advisers and other service providers to provide advance disclosures to ERISA plans concerning their services and compensation, both direct and indirect. Advisers entering into new contracts with covered plans must provide the disclosure before the contract is executed. Advisers must disclose any changes to information in the initial disclosures no later than 60 days after learning of the change.
Annual Obligations:
Schedule 13D/13G/Section 16 Filings
Advisers should monitor holdings for any filings that may be required on Schedule 13D or 13G or under Section 16. Advisers are required to file Schedules 13D or 13G when the adviser directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership of more than 5 percent of a class of equity securities. Schedule 13G is an optional short-form beneficial ownership statement for certain persons subject to Section 13(d) and as a mandatory disclosure statement for persons subject to Section 13(g). The categories of persons eligible to file on Schedule 13G are a qualified institutional investor pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), a passive investor pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), and an exempt investor pursuant to Rule 13d-1(d).Registered investment advisors are considered qualified institutional investors and more likely subject to Section 13(g) as opposed to Section 13(d). Schedule 13G may only be used if the registered investment advisor holds the securities due to its normal course of business and not to affect change or influence control of the issuer (e.g., a passive investor). If a registered investment advisor intends to affect or influence control of the issuer, the more stringent Section 13(d) requirements apply.
An initial Schedule 13G must be filed through the SEC’s EDGAR system within 45 days after the end of the calendar year when the registered investment advisor attains more than 5% beneficial ownership. If a registered investment advisor attains more than 10% beneficial ownership prior to the end of the calendar year, the initial Schedule 13G must be filed within 10 days after the end of the first month in which beneficial ownership exceeds 10% as computed on the last day of the month.
Amendments to Schedule 13G must be filed annually when there are changes. However, if the initial Schedule 13G reports ownership of more than 5% and the registered investment advisor exceeds 10% prior to the end of the calendar year, an amendment must be filed within 10 days after the month in which beneficial ownership exceeds 10%, as computed on the last day of the month. Thereafter, the registered investment adviser must file an amendment within 10 days after the month when ownership decreases or increases by 5%. Once an amendment has been filed showing change of ownership below 5%, no additional filings are needed.
The due date for filing for the beneficial ownership statement depends on the category of the initial Schedule 13G filer.
Qualified Institutional Investor – 13d-1(b)
Within 45 days of the end of the calendar year in which the beneficial owner acquired more than 5% and within 10 days of the end of the calendar month in which the beneficial owner acquired more than 10%
Passive Investor – 13d-1(c)
Within 10 days of the acquisition of more than 5% but less than 20%
Exempt Investor – 13d-1(d)
Within 45 days of the end of the calendar year in which the beneficial owner acquired more than 5%
Section 16 Filings
Individuals or entities that beneficially own 10% of any class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and officers or directors of the issuers of these securities, may be required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 regarding their ownership of and transactions in these securities.
Form 3
10 days after the individual becomes the reporting person
Form 4
2 business days after the transaction date
Form 5
45 calendar days after issuer’s fiscal year end (February 14, 2021 for adviser with fiscal year end of December 31st)
TIC Form SLT
(Aggregate Holdings of Long-Term Securities by U.S. and Foreign Residents)A private fund manager must file Form SLT on behalf of each U.S. entity it manages if, as of the end of a calendar month, the aggregate GAAP fair market value of the following equals or exceeds $1 billion:
all partnership interests held by non-U.S. limited partners in its U.S. partnerships, plus
all investments held by its U.S. partnerships representing less than 10% of the voting securities of a non-U.S. portfolio company, plus
all long-term debt (more than one-year maturity) held by its U.S. partnerships of a non-U.S. portfolio company.
In general, a private fund manager does not need to report(1) securities held in third-party accounts it manages,(2) co-investments made by its funds’ limited partners, or(3) on behalf of any non-U.S. partnerships it manages.
For example, if a U.S. resident fund holds $500 million of foreign long-term securities and a foreign investor holds a $500 million interest in the U.S. resident fund, a Form SLT reporting obligation would be triggered for the U.S. resident fund (or fund manager). Form SLT must be filed no later than the 23rd calendar day of the month following the report as-of date. Form SLT applies to all U.S.-resident custodians (including U.S.-resident banks), U.S.-resident issuers (such as a U.S. fund) and U.S.-resident end-investors (such as a U.S. investment adviser, whether or not registered).
Annual Compliance Review
It is generally considered a best practice (but not absolutely required) to complete the annual compliance review by the end of the first calendar quarter or early in the second calendar quarter of the year. Investment advisers should review their compliance policies, code of ethics, and overall program. Under Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act of 1940, the annual review should address, at a minimum:
Conflicts of interest, including discussion of side letters and performance fees
Portfolio management (including best execution, valuation and trade allocation practices and procedures)
Internal violations and changes to policies and procedures
Code of Ethics and personal trading activities of access persons
Trading and Investment Restrictions
Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
ERISA (ensure appropriate disclosures have been provided, and testing of ownership percentages of benefit plan investors in funds)
Advertising and marketing, focusing on presentation of performance data and ensuring accuracy
Changes to the firm’s business and operations that result in changes to policies and procedures
Social Media policies and procedures
Accurate creation and maintenance of required records
Cybersecurity
New Issues Rule – Annual Verification
Advisers investing in new issues should contact their clients and investors to verify their eligibility to invest in new issues under FINRA Rules 5130 and Rule 5131. An investment adviser that acquires initial public offerings for a fund or separately managed client account must obtain written representation initially and reaffirm every 12 months from the fund or the account’s beneficial owner confirming their eligibility status (“restricted” or “non-restricted”) to participate in new issues. This annual reaffirmation may be obtained through “negative consent” letters.
State Notice Filings/Investment Adviser Representatives
When taking on clients in a state where the adviser has not previously had any clients or business, the adviser should review that new state’s notice and registration requirements to determine whether it needs to make any new notice filings via IARD. In addition, the adviser should determine whether any of its personnel need to be registered as “investment adviser representatives” in any state and, if so, register such persons or renew their registrations with the applicable states.
Blue Sky Filings/Form D
Many state securities “blue sky” filings expire on a periodic basis and must be renewed. Review blue sky filings for funds to determine whether any updated filings or additional filings are necessary. Form D filings for continuous offerings are required to be amended with the SEC on an annual basis based upon the original Form D file date (i.e., if the initial file date is December 1, 2020, then the annual update will be required to be filed with the SEC by December 1, 2021).
