Financial Disclosure
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Financial Disclosure Statements
Certain elected officials, candidates for elected offices, public employees, and appointees to public positions must file an annual financial disclosure statement with the Ohio Ethics Commission. List of those required to file
A financial disclosure statement reports certain personal financial interests and fiduciary relationships from the preceding calendar year.
Financial disclosure helps:
- Public officials or employees identify potential conflicts of interest
- Citizens understand the financial interests of officials and employees who serve them
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Deadlines
Friday, May 15, 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026 is the general filing deadline, which applies to most filers, for calendar year 2025 financial disclosure statements.
The general filing deadline applies to all filers except for those individuals filing for any of the reasons listed below:
- Candidates:
- Non-Incumbent Candidates
- Candidate in the May 5, 2026 primary election: Monday, April 6, 2026
- Write-in candidate in the May 5, 2026 primary election: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
- Candidate in the November 3, 2026, general election (who did NOT appear on an earlier ballot): Monday, October 5, 2026
- Write-in candidate in the November 3, 2026, general election (who did NOT appear on an earlier ballot): Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Candidate in a Special Election: 30 days ( 20 days for write-in candidates) prior to the first election at which their name will appear on a ballot.
- Incumbent Candidates
- Certified to the ballot prior to May 15, 2026: 30 days ( 20 days for write-in candidates) prior to the first election at which their name will appear on a ballot.
- Certified to the ballot on or after May 15, 2026: Friday, May 15, 2026
- Non-Incumbent Candidates
- Person Appointed to Unexpired Term in Elected Office: Within 15 days after being sworn in to office.
- Person Appointed or Promoted to, or Employed in, a Non-Elective Filing Position after February 15, 2026: Within 90 days of appointment, promotion, or employment.
For more information see R.C. 102.02(A)(4) and OAC 102-5-10.
Filing & Late Fees
Filing Fees
Disclosure statements must be accompanied by a filing fee based on the position for which the person is filing. Most filers are responsible for paying their own filing fees. However, the law requires that state agencies must pay the filing fees for the employees who serve the agencies.
| Filer | Fee |
|---|---|
| State elected office holder or candidate | $95 |
| State Board of Education member or candidate | $35 |
| County elected office holder or candidate | $60 |
| City elected office holder or candidate | $35 |
| School district board of education member or candidate | $30 |
| ESC governing board member or candidate | $30 |
| School district or ESC superintendent, treasurer, or business manager | $30 |
| All other filers | $60 |
Late Fees
In addition to filing fees, statements which are filed after the appropriate deadline will be assessed an additional late filing fee of $10 per day, for each day the statement is late, up to a maximum of $250.
Methods of Payment
Filing and/or late fees can be paid by check or money order made payable to the Ohio Ethics Commission.
Electronic Filing Only: If an individual opts to file electronically, filing and late fees can be paid via a credit card or electronic check (ACH) at the time of filing through the Commission's online financial disclosure statement filing system.
Penalties
Late Filings Penalties
The Ethics Law requires that each financial disclosure filer should file their statement on or before the applicable filing deadline. There are penalties, including late fees and possible fourth-degree misdemeanor criminal charges, for any filers who fail to file their statements on time.
Failing to File Penalties
Any person who does not file a required statement can be charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The maximum penalty for a person convicted of a fourth-degree misdemeanor is a two hundred and fifty dollar ($250) fine and/or thirty (30) days in jail.
False Filings Penalties
Any person who files a false statement can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. The maximum penalty for a person convicted of a first-degree misdemeanor is a one thousand dollar ($1,000) fine and/or six (6) months in jail.
Attaching Info to a Previously Filed Statement
While the law requires that a financial disclosure statement must be complete at the time it is filed, a filer may submit additional information and request that the Commission attach it to a previously filed statement.
The Commission will acknowledge receiving the information, and then determine whether it should be attached to the statement. If the facts suggest that the filer inadvertently excluded the information, it will be attached to the previously filed statement and treated as part of the statement. If the facts suggest that the filer knowingly failed to provide the information, the Commission will consider whether further criminal action is required.