Customer Service Update: April 7, 2022
NEW Online Services: For faster service, UCC, Business Entities and Trademark filings, searches and orders are available online at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. A bizfile Online account is required to submit Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships filings online. Instructions to set up a bizfile Online account are provided in the bizfile Online Account Setup and User Access Guide (PDF). Online Expedite Service is available for Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships. Online submissions will have priority over drop-off and mail submissions.
Sacramento Office: Paper documents may be dropped off during regular business hours. Daily pickup in the Sacramento lobby is from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Paper expedite and preclearance services remain suspended. Documents eligible for daily pickup include business entity filings, statements of information, orders, uniform commercial code documents, and apostilles. Documents dropped off are subject to the applicable special handling fee.
Los Angeles Office: Paper documents may be dropped off during regular business hours. Documents are returned by mail.
COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Processing dates vary depending on the type of request submitted, how the request is submitted, and when the request is received by the California Secretary of State's office.
As significantly more requests are submitted at the end of the fiscal and calendar years, the processing time for all requests takes longer. If a faster response time is needed for a filing request, see Service Options for information about expediting a filing request.
Last updated: October 20, 2022
View Content: Open All Close AllElectronic filing is required for campaign entities that have raised or spent $25,000 since January 1, 2000. Lobbying entities must file electronically once the total amount of any category of reportable payments, expenses, contributions, gifts or other item is $2,500 or more in a calendar quarter. Please check our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
There are two different methods for filing your statement electronically. You can use the Secretary of State's free Cal-Online system. There is no fee for using Cal-Online, however not every form is available. You can also contact an approved vendor. See below for more information.
Getting Started - Electronic Filing Password Request
- Password/Vendor Authorization Applications for Electronic and Online Filing
Cal Online - Free Online Filing Forms
Access the following Cal-Online Forms:
- Form 400 - Statement of Organization (Slate Mailer Organization)
- Form 401 - Slate Mailer Organization Campaign Statement
- Form 402 - Statement of Termination (Slate Mailer Organization)
- Form 410 - Statement of Organization
- Form 425 - Semi-Annual Statement of No Activity
- Form 450 - Recipient Committee Campaign Statement - Short Form
- Form 460 - Recipient Committee Campaign Statement
- Form 461 - Independent Expenditure and Major Donor Committee Campaign Statement
- Form 496 - Late Independent Expenditure Report
- Form 497 - Late Contribution Report
- Form 498 - Slate Mailer Late Payment Report
- Form 511 - Paid Spokesperson Report
- Form 601 - Lobbying Firm Registration Statement
- Form 602 - Lobbying Firm Activity Authorization
- Form 603 - Lobbyist Employer/Lobbying Coalition Registration Statement
- Form 604 - Lobbyist Certification Statement
- Form 605 - Amendment to Registration
- Form 606 - Notice of Termination
- Form 607 - Notice of Withdrawal
- Form 615 - Lobbyist Report
- Form 625 - Report of Lobbying Firm
- Form 635 - Report of Lobbyist Employer and Report of Lobbying Coalition
- Form 645 - Report of Person Spending $5,000 or more to Influence Legislative or Administrative Action
Access the following Cal Online Form:
- Form E-530 - Issue Advocacy Report
Approved Vendor Information
- Vendors/Service Providers Approved for Electronic Filing in California
More Information
- Secretary of State/Fair Political Practices Commission Public Hearing on Electronic Filing September 26, 2007(PDF)
- Software Approval Process(PDF)
- Software Provider Statement of Intention Form for Electronic Filing(PDF)
- California Electronic Filing Format (CAL) Version 2.20
- Electronic Filing Utilities
- California X12 Election Campaign and Lobbyist Reporting, TS 113 Implementation Conventions
- Minutes of the CLAIMS (now known as CAL-ACCESS) User's Group Meetings
- SB 49 Hearing Transcript May 20, 1999 (PDF)