How to Electronically File Personal Financial Disclosure Statements

and How to Electronically File the

Affidavit of a Public Officer

January 10, 2011, the Executive Director and members of State Boards, Commissions or Authorities are no longer required to file an annual Personal Financial Disclosure Statement.

However, the Executive Director and members of State Boards, Commissions or Authorities are instead required to electronically file an annual affidavit confirming that such individuals have taken no official action which had a material effect on such public officer's private financial or business interests in the previous calendar year. This affidavit must be filed on or before January 31 of each year.

In order to make the filing, executive directors and members of State Boards, Commissions or Authorities must first log into our e-filing system at www.ethics.ga.gov/EFiling/ using the same Filer Id and Password used to file previous Personal Financial Disclosure Statements.

 If an individual is new to a State Board, Commission or Authority, they must first obtain a Filer Id and Password. The individual must complete a PIN Application for e-filing Personal Financial Disclosure Statement which can be found on the Commission’s website at www.ethics.ga.gov/references/publications.aspx (form #9). After an individual obtains a Filer Id and Password, they can access the Commission’s online system to file the affidavit.

Please note that the Executive Director and members of each State Board, Commission or Authority are still deemed to be Public Officials for purposes of Code Section 45-10-26 and shall be subject to the disclosure requirements set forth in Code Section 45-10-26.

The bottom line is that Agency Heads file a PFD and the Executive Director and members of State Boards, Commissioners, or Authorities file and Affidavit of a Public Officer instead of a PFD. If an Agency Head is also on a State Board, Commission, or Authority, he/she files both.

Who has to file which report ?The following persons are required to file a Personal Financial Disclosure statement:• Every constitutional officer; • Every elected state official; • The executive head of every state department or agency, whether elected or

appointed; • Each member of the General Assembly; • Every elected county official and every elected member of a local board of

education; and • Every elected municipal official.• Members of the State Transportation Board

The following persons are required to file an Affidavit of a Public Officer confirming that such public officer took no official action in the previous calendar year that had a material effect on such public officer's private financial or business interests.

• The Executive Director of each State Board, Commission, or Authority and the members thereof

Once you have logged in to the efiling system you

are at the User Main Menu. The tabs across

the top of the screen allow you to navigate the

different sections of this system. The “Registration

Info” tab allows you to amend your registration, change your email and/or

password, and add additional offices you

hold. The “Amend Report” tab allows you to amend previously filed reports. The “View Reports” tab

allows you to view all previously filed reports.

To modify your email address or password click on the “Registration Info” tab. Click the “Update” button. Enter the new

information and then click “Submit”. Remember to use this information the

next time you log in.

To add a new office click on the “Registration Info”

tab. You will see your information and all of your registered offices. You can

amend your registration information by clicking the

“Edit Address” button.

To add a new office click the “Add New Office”

button.

Select the office level and then the office name.

Click the submit button.

To modify an office click the “Modify” button

beside the office you wish to modify

Follow the directions on the screen.

Under the User Main Menu heading are four

sections. The first shows any reports you have

started but have not yet submitted (these are

called working reports). The next section allows

you to start a new report. The third section allows

you to view all submitted reports. The fourth

sections allows you to view all submitted

Affidavits of a Public Officer.

To begin we will file an affidavit required of all members that sit on a

State board, Commission or Authority.

Under “Start a New Report” select the

Affidavit of Public Officer option.

Select the year for which you are reporting.

Click on the “File a Report” button.

Enter the information into each section and then

after reading the entire screen click “I Accept and

Submit”

Remember to enter all applicable boards,

authorities, or commissions you sit on in

the appropriate line separated by commas.

You have successfully filed your affadavit and may

return to the main menu to log out.

To file a Personal Financial Disclosure Statement

(PFD) select that option for number 1 under “Start a New Report." Select the

year of information for which you are reporting. (Starting 2012 you will be

able to import information from the previous year, currently this is not an

option) Then click the file a report button.

When filing you should always be reporting

information from the previous year. If you

select a year for which you already reported, an error message will appear in red

and you will need to correct Line 2 under start

a new report.

Once on the Cover Page indicate your office type by clicking on the correct

bubble. Then click the update button.

•Elected public officers are in a non election year.

•Candidates are in an election year.

•Members of State Authority, Board, or Commission if you are not eligible to file affidavit.

You will then be directed to the Report Menu. On

the report menu are report sections. Each

section must be complete before your report can be submitted. You will know you completed the section

when the red word *required is replaced with

a blue word Completed under the Section Status to the right of the screen.

Select the section you wish to complete by

clicking on the words. Example Section 1-

Monetary fees received.

If you have no money to report click the “Section Completed” button. Otherwise to add monetary fees click

the add Monetary Fees button.

For each section if you have more than one entry then repeat the steps provided for that entry. Review your

information and then click Section Complete to return to the Report Menu.

Enter the required information in all boxes then click the “Submit Entry” button.

If you have no Fiduciary Positions to report click the “Section Complete” button. Otherwise to add a Fiduciary

Position click the “Add Fiduciary Position” button.

Enter the required information in all boxes then click the “Submit Entry” button.

If you have no Direct Ownership Interest in a Business Entity to report click the “Section Complete” button.

Otherwise to add Interest in a Business Entity click the “Add Business Interest ” button.

Enter the required

information in all boxes then

click the “Submit Entry”

button..

If you have no Direct Ownership Interest in Real Property to report click the “No Real Property” button. Then to

report Direct Ownership Interest In Real Property click the “Add Real Property ” button.

Enter the required

information in all boxes and bubbles then

click the “Add” button.

If your spouse has no Direct Ownership Interests in Real Property and you have nothing to report click the “No Real

Property” button. To add your Spouse’s Direct Ownership Interests in Real

Property click the “Add Real Property ” button.

Enter the required

information in all boxes and bubbles then

click the “Submit Entry”

button.

Enter the required

information in all boxes then

click the “Submit Entry”

button.

If you have no Investment Interests to report click the “No Investment” button. Otherwise to add an Investment

Interests click the “Add Investment ” button.

Enter the required information in all boxes then click the “Submit Entry” button.

If you have no known Business or Investment Interests of your spouse or dependent children to report click the “No

Business Holdings” button.

To add a known Investment Interest of your spouse or dependent children click the “Add Business Holdings ”

button.

Enter the required

information in all boxes then

click the “Submit Entry”

button.

If you have no Annual Payments Received from the State of Georgia to report click the “No Payments Received” button.

Otherwise to add Annual Payments Received from the State of Georgia click the “Add Payments Received”

button.

Enter the required

information in all boxes then

click the “Submit Entry”

button.

Once all the sections have been completed click on

the “I Electronically Submit This Report”

Button.

A confirmation will be emailed to the email

address on file.

This screen allows you to leave comments about the

efiling system.

Thank you for taking the initiative to learn how to electronically file in the PFD system.  We strive to 

provide excellence in education.  We hope this tutorial has provided you with a better understanding of the 

E-Filing System.  If you have questions or comments for the 

Education and Information Division please email 

bgodwin@ethics.ga.gov.