Creating a new Campaign Finance Report

The following instructions will give you a brief overview on how to create and file a new Campaign Finance Report using the Campaign Finance SmartClient. For more detailed instructions on how to use the SmartClient, please read through the Campaign Finance Smart Client User's Guide.

If you're interested in creating an electronic filing using an alternative method, click here.

Step 1: Opening the Campaign Finance SmartClient for the first time
 

Once you have successfully installed the SmartClient on your machine (see here for more information on installation), you will need to enter your initial filer information and select a cycle for which to file. The filer information is the same information you would normally enter on the cover page of a report, such as your official Filer Name, Address, Filer ID, Office and District (if applicable), and phone number.

Step 2: Choose a Cycle and enter all Contributions, Receipts, Expenses, and Debts

On the Cycle Summary screen of the Campaign Finance SmartClient, you can select a cycle for which to file. If the desired cycle is not displayed in the selectable list, you will need to add it via the Report Cycles option from the Filer menu. Once you've chosen the cycle, you can move between the contributions, receipts, expenses, and debts data entry screens to enter all of your transactions for the cycle.

Step 3: Review the Report Summary, and Print Out a Paper Copy

Once you have finished entering all of the report information, open the Campaign Report (or Statement) option from the Reports menu, and review the summary information on the Cover Page. If your totals do not match as expected, then close the Report Viewer and fix any mistakes. Once the report is correct and completed in full, you can use the Report Viewer to print out two paper copies - one for yourself, and one for the City Commissioner's Office.

Step 4: Electronically Submitting the Report to the Department of Records

Use the Export feature from the File menu of the Campaign Finance SmartClient to create the required files necessary for uploading to the Department of Records website. Once you have successfully exported the files, follow these steps:

• Locate the folder where you instructed the program to create or export the files.
  
• The actual names of the files are "filer.txt", "contrib.txt", "receipt.txt", "expense.txt", and "debt.txt". Select all text files by Lassoing or using [Ctrl]-[Left-Click] to choose the target files.
  
• Right Click and select "Send to > Compressed (zipped) Folder" ? this will create a Zip file with the same name as the last selected item.
  
• Login to the online system.
  
• Go to the Upload Files page, browse and select your zip file, and then click the ZipSubmit button.
   

Step 5: Submitting the Printed Out Report to the City Commissioner's Office

In addition to electronic submissions, all filers are still required to submit a printed copy of their report to Philadelphia's City Commissioner's Office with a signed affidavit affixed to the front of the packet. The paper submission should be mailed or dropped off to Philadelphia's City Commissioner's Office prior to the filing deadline.