For candidates and committees that register with OCPF

Depository Candidates and Committees
Candidates for the statewide offices, House, Senate, county and district offices, Governor's Council, mayor, city council and alderman seats in cities with 65,000 or more in population, political action committees, and the state political party committees. Read more
  • The Statewide Offices: The constitutional offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Secretary, State Treasurer or State Auditor.
  • County and Disctrict Offices: County Clerks of Court, Commissioners and Treasurers; Registers of Deeds and Probate; District Attorneys; Sheriffs and Suffolk County Clerks of the Superior and Supreme Judicial Courts.
  • Governor's Council: One of the eight district seats of the Executive Council.
  • Legislative: House and Senate candidates.
  • All Mayoral Candidates
  • City Councilors:This includes the communities of Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham & Worcester.
  • Political action committees. (People's committees must organize and operate as political action committees for six months before they can seek a change of status.)
  • The state committees of political parties organized under M.G.L. chapter 52, section 1.

Non-Depository Candidates and Candidate Committees
Candidates for Barnstable Assembly of Delegates


Statement of Organization: CPF 101.

Segregated fund accounts Legal defense, recount and inaugural funds
On behalf of candidates or committees who register with OCPF
  • Statement of Organization: CPF 101 SFA
  • Notice of Dissolution: Segregated Fund Account CPF 18E

Independent expenditure political action committees
Statement of Organization: CPF 101 IEPC

Ward, town and city political party committees
Statement of Organization: CPF 101 WTC

State ballot question committees
Statement of Organization: CPF 101 BQ
Initial Report: CPF 102 BQ

People's Committees
  • Statement of Organization: A people's committee must organize as a PAC (see above) and must be in existence for at least six months before seeking a change of status.
  • Declaration of Status: PAC becoming a People's Committee: Form CPF 101 DS-1
  • Declaration of Status: People's Committee becoming a PAC: Form CPF 101 DS-2

Committee Organization Forms for candidates & committees that register with local election officials

Candidates and Candidate Committees
Candidates for local offices with reporting requirements to their local election officials
  • Statement of Organization: CPF M 101.
  • Statement of Candidate Not Raising or Expending Campaign Funds: CPF M 109.

  • Segregated Fund Accounts Legal defense, recount and inaugural funds
    On behalf of candidates who register with their local election officials
    Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 SFA.

    Local Political Action Committees
    Organized to support or oppose a roster of candidates in a single municipality.
    Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 PC

    Local Ballot Question Committees
    Organized to support or oppose a question appearing on a city or town ballot.
    Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 BQ

    Reporting Forms & Instructions for candidates and committees that file with their local election officials

    • Municipal Campaign Finance Report - CPF M 102   Instructions   (Sch. A addendum)   (Sch. B addendum)
    • Itemization of Reimbursements Form - CPF R 1
    • Municipal Campaign Finance Report - No Financial Activity - CPF M 102-0
    • Amendment to Campaign Finance Report - CPF 102A
    • Municipal Report of Ballot Question Expenditures by Corporation, Organization or Individual - CPF M 22
    • Municipal Report of Governmental Treasurer - CPF 22A
    • Municipal Report of Independent Expenditures Promoting Election or Defeat of Candidate(s) - CPF M18A
    • Municipal Report of Independent Expenditures Promoting Election or Defeat of Candidate(s) for Independent Expenditure PACs CPF M102IEPAC
    • Municipal Report of Subvendor Payments - CPF SV1 (M)
    • Municipal Report of Donations to Inauguration, Recount or Legal Defense Funds Form - CPF M18E
    • Municipal Report of Electioneering Communication Expenditure - CPF M18F
    • Municipal Report of Contributions from Gaming License Applicants - CPF M119

    Miscellaneous Reporting Forms

    Campaign Finance Report for Local Party Committees
    Ward, town and city political party committees
    CPF 102 WTC    Instructions
    (Sch. A addendum)   (Sch. B addendum)

    Statement of Settlement
    CPF S-1

    Affidavit of Candidate/Treasurer with Outstanding Liabilities
    Affidavit

    Report of Joint Fundraising Agent Sponsoring Joint Fundraising Event
    CPF 102JT

    General Treasury Organizations
    General Treasury Incidental Threshold Registration CPF 101 GTO
    Incidental Threshold Year-End Report CPF 102 GTO

    Public Financing Forms (Statewide Candidates Only): 2022 forms
    • Public Financing Handbook: 2022 - Handbook
    • Statement on Campaign Expenditure Limits: Primary and General Campaign - CPFA 20    Instructions
    • Statement of Maximum Expenditures: Primary Election Campaign - CPFA 21
    • Statement of Maximum Expenditures: General Election Campaign - CPFA 22
    • Statement of Maximum Expenditures: Candidate Team - CPFA 22T
    • Candidate's Post-Primary Balance Statement - CPFA 10
    • Post Primary Expenditure Report - CPFA 30   Schedules
    • Candidate's Post-Election Balance Statement - CPFA 11
    • Candidate's Post-Election Expenditure Report - CPFA 31   Schedules

    Changing Treasurer?

    If you have a change in your committee's treasurer, you will need to download and complete one of these forms:

    For candidates and committees registered with OCPF:
    Change of Treasurer/Acceptance of Office by New Treasurer - CPF T 101
    For candidates and committees registered with their local election officials:
    Municipal Change of Treasurer/Acceptance of Office by New Treasurer - CPF M T 101

    There is important information you need to know about a change in treasurer for your committee. Read more...

    The office of Treasurer is vital to an organized political committee. Under the campaign finance law, no money or anything of value can be received and no expenditures or disbursements can be made by a political committee (or any person acting under the authority of or on behalf of a political committee) while it has no treasurer.

    An appointed treasurer must be in place prior to the time a political committee files its Statement of Organization with OCPF since the treasurer's name and address must appear on the completed form.

    A treasurer is appointed, or qualified, for his or her office by filing a written acceptance of the office with OCPF (or if organized for the purpose of a city or town election only, with the city or town clerk).

    The treasurer remains subject to all the duties and liabilities imposed by the campaign finance law until his or her written resignation of the office is received or his successor's written acceptance is filed with OCPF (or the city or town clerk). The treasurer is primarily responsible for:

    • authorizing expenditures made on behalf of the political committee;
    • keeping detailed accounts of the campaign finance activities of the political committee;
    • keeping and preserving detailed records of the campaign finance activities of the political committee; and
    • preparing and filing required campaign finance activity reports.

    If a political committee needs to appoint a new treasurer, the former treasurer should submit a written letter of resignation to the political committee. The political committee should appoint a new treasurer who will complete and sign a CPF T 101: Change of Treasurer form. The political committee must submit the change of treasurer form and a copy of the former treasurer's resignation letter to OCPF (or the town or city clerk) within ten days following the change.

    Care must be taken when selecting a new treasurer for the political committee. There are restrictions on who may serve as the treasurer for a political committee organized in Massachusetts. Those who cannot serve as the treasurer of a political committee include:

    • a public employee (one who is employed by the Commonwealth, a county or a city or town.);
    • the Secretary of the Commonwealth;
    • a city or town clerk (except those that do not administer elections);
    • a member of a board of registrars of voters in any city or town; or
    • a member of an election commission in any city or town.
    • a candidate may not be the treasurer of the political committee which has been organized on his behalf.

    If you have further questions, or require additional information, please contact OCPF.

    Changing Office?

    If you decide to run for a different office, you need to download and complete this form:
    Change of Purpose (Office Sought) CPF 101P

    Once completed, return this form to OCPF or your local election official.

    OCPF Campaign Finance Activity Guides and Fact Sheets

    OCPF issues various publications to help candidates, committees, public employees and others understand the campaign finance law. Every publication is available at no cost and we will provide them via email, fax or mail upon request.

    TitleDescription# of Pages
    CAMPAIGN FINANCE GUIDES Campaign finance guides explain the disclosure requirements and filing process for candidates and committees.
    Depository Candidates and PACs This guide is for candidates for the statewide offices, House, Senate, county and district offices, Governor's Council, mayor, city council and alderman candidates in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham and Worcester, as well as PACs, People's Committees and the state political party committees. 25
    One-Page Summary of the Depository Reporting System A one-page summary of the Depository Reporting System 1
    A Summary of the Depository Reporting System, for Legislative Candidates A summary of the depository system, for House and Senate candidates 1
    Candidates for Municipal Office This guide is for candidates running for local offices that have their reporting requirements with their local election officials. 22
    Local Election Officials This guide is designed to introduce city and town clerks and local election officials to the provisions of the campaign finance law. 22
    Municipal Write-in Candidates This one-paged guide assists candidates who run write-in campaigns on the local level. 1
    Municipal Candidates Without A Committee This one-paged guide assists candidates who run without a committee on the local level. 1
    Independent Expenditure
    Political Action Committees (IE PACs)
    This guide is for political action committees that receive contributions for the purpose of making independent expenditures to support or oppose a candidate or candidates. 18
    State Ballot Question Committees This summary guide describes how to organize a State Ballot Question Committee with OCPF, and how to disclose its financial activity. 20
    Municipal Ballot Question Committees This summary guide describes how to organize and operate a Municpal Ballot Question Committee, and how to disclose its finance activity with local election officials. 18
    Municipal Political Action Committees A guide for municipal PACs that file with local election officials. 2
    Local Political Party Committees This summary guide describes how to operate a Local Political Party Committee that is organized on the ward, town or city levels. 22
    Public Employees, Public Resources and Political Activity This guide is intended to answer questions concerning political and fundraising activity by government workers. 23
    Committee Treasurers This guide provides basic information about the role and duties of the treasurer of a political committee in Massachusetts. 24
    Public Finance Handbook This guide provides information about the public financing program in Massachusetts. 114
    OCPF Political Party Convention Guidance A summary of legal guidance concerning state party conventions, for parties, delegates and candidates. 2
    Public Employee Unions and PACs A guide for the process of collecting contributions from public employees for an affiliated union PAC. 2
    Savings Accounts: Depository System This guide explains how to create and maintain a savings account in the depository system of reporting. 2
    CAMPAIGN FINANCE FACT SHEETS Campaign finance fact sheets are brief overviews, explainers or charts that contain basic information about aspects of the campaign finance law.
    Annual Campaign Contribution Limits Click here to view a chart of the contribution limits to candidates and political committees in Massachusetts. 1
    How to File a Deposit Report An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 8
    How to Amend a Deposit Report An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 9
    How to File a Year-End Report in the Depository system An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 8
    How to amend a depository year-end report An illustrated guide on how to amend a year-end report that has already been filed with OCPF. 3
    Traditional PACs that make Independent Expenditures An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 8
    How to dissolve a depository account with OCPF This illustrated guide explains the process for dissolving (closing) a depository account with OCPF 8
    How to File a Reimbursement in the Depository System An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 6
    How to Clarify an Expenditure An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 6
    How to Add/Update Occupation and Employer Information An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 6
    How to Report Credit and Debit Card Fees An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 8
    How to Account for Merchant Provider Refunds An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 11
    How to Upload Contributor Data to a Deposit Report An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 13
    How to Disclose Subvendor Expenditures An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 8
    How to Forgive a Candidate Loan An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 11
    Candidate Loan Repayment in the Depository System of Reporting An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees 7
    How to Report Out-of-Pocket Expenditures An illustrated guide for candidates who file with their local election officials. 4
    How to Account for Credit and Debit Card Fees (Contributions) An illustrated guide for candidates who file with their local election officials. 4
    How to Use Reporter 7 to Create, Print, and File Reports An illustrated guide for local filers who use Reporter 7 to create, print and file reports. 12
    How to Complete and File the M102 Campaign Finance Form An illustrated guide for candidates who file with their local election officials. 9
    Traditional municipal PACs that make independent expenditure An illustrated guide for Traditional municipal PACs that make independent expenditure. 3
    Paid for By Guide An illustrated guide that provides examples of disclaimers on campaign materials. 7
    Independent Spending This illustrated guide demonstrates how to register to file reports for independent expenditures (18A), electioneering communications and independent ballot question spending. 14
    Campaign Finance Law Changes: A Timeline Guide: Timeline of campaign finance law revisions. 1
    How to dissolve a committee Committees that have no cash balance, assets or outstanding liabilities and wish to dissolve may do so, as long as the candidate represented by the committee does not still hold elected office. 1
    Changing the purpose of a candidate’s committee Guide: Changing the purpose of a candidate's committee (when a candidate decides to run for another office) 1
    Public Employees and Campaigns This is a one-page summary describing the implications of the campaign finance law for public employees and public buildings, and the use of public resources for political purposes. 1
    How to Report Late Contributions This guide describes how and when to file Late Contribution Reports. 3
    Traditional political action committees that make independent expenditures This guide explains the steps a state-level PAC must take if it makes independent expenditures to support or oppose candidates who file with OCPF. 1
    Electronic Filing Instructions (Depository Filers) This one-page explainer provides step-by-step instructions for Depository Committees to use OCPF reporting software. 1
    The Campaign Finance Law and Businesses This one-page explainer provides guidance on the impact of the campaign finance law on businesses. 1
    Common Errors Made When Completing Campaign Finance Reports This guide helps committees to avoid common errors made when completing campaign finance reports. 1
    Campaign Finance Disclosure in Municipal Elections Local candidates will want to review this guide prior to filing reports with their local election officials. 2
    An Overview of the Massachusetts Public Finance System Statewide candidates should review this guide, whether they plan on participating in the public financing system or not. The public financing system provides matching contributions to qualified candidates. 2
    Application of Spending Limit Declarations This guide describes the process that statewide candidates follow concerning spending limit statements. 1
    Statewide Candidates Expenditure Statements This guide describes the process that statewide candidates follow concerning expenditure statements. 1

    File Formats

    All of the forms and publications on this page are in PDF file format so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on the icon to download the installation file at no cost.