Avalara, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Avalara, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Seattle, WAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,416 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$4,075Employer $ per active participant
$13,764Employee $ saved per active participant
0.13%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$232.3MNet plan assets, end of year
$77,316Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity32.4 / 5065th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost16.6 / 2566th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.5 / 1583th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score59 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (1,469 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 65th |
| Lower admin cost | 66th |
| Employee saving | 83th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 48% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($94 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $4,292 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Avalara put in about $4,075 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($3,082). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $9,843,593 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $33,246,892 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $4,990,837 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $274,052 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $40,314 |
| Benefits paid out | $19,543,766 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $176.4M / $232.3M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,522 / 2,309 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,004 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Deloitte & Touche LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $233,738 reported compensation |
| Global Retirement Partners LLC | $30,078 reported compensation |
| Usi Advisors Inc | $10,236 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20250924152654NAL0017423074001, received 2025-09-24, EIN 91-1995935, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.