With the exception of Michigan, Idaho and Vermont, public office holders and candidates for public office are required to submit an annual financial disclosure statement. A financial disclosure statement lists assets, sources of income, debts and creditors and may require you to account for any campaign and tax money spent. The purpose of this disclosure is to avoid conflicts of interest between your public duties and private financial interests. If you are required to file a financial disclosure form at the city level you can do so with the local Municipal Clerk's office; at the state level refer to your Secretary of State's office; members of the U.S. Congress file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate; other federal employees file with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
Instructions
File a Financial Disclosure Statement
1. Research your particular situation with the appropriate local, state or federal agency to determine what documents you need to file with your financial disclosure statement. Financial disclosure documents vary depending on what position you hold or hope to hold and on local, state, or federal laws that may apply to your situation. Your financial disclosure filings may include separate forms for campaign contributions, contributors and gifts. If your filing packet includes one form or several, ensure you have the appropriate ones to avoid late fees.
2. File your documents by the stated deadlines of the city, state or federal filing agency. Because election cycles impact the deadline of your financial disclosure statement, some states require filing documents before election primaries or within 15 days of an appointment to a public office. Missing the filing deadline may result in additional penalty fees.
3. Comply fully with the information standards that apply to your financial disclosure statement. The information provided on your financial disclosure forms must be accurate to avoid the perception of unethical behavior. For instance, your personal financial information is often reported in ranges and not exact amounts. Some cities, however, require you to list every campaign donation along with the contributor.
4. Pay the fees required to file a financial disclosure statement. Failure to pay the filing fee will result in an incomplete filing and may jeopardize your ability to run for public office or accept an appointment to a public office.
