Out of state committees: New PDC filing system for C5 reports goes live today

The Public Disclosure Commission has a new online application for out-of-state committees to use for filing C-5 reports, starting today, Aug. 6.

The PDC will no longer accept the old paper forms. State law requires PDC reports to be filed electronically when the agency has provided a system to do so.   

These reports detail expenditures and contributions exceeding $50 made by an out-of-state political committee to influence a Washington election. The reports are due on the 10th of the month following the contribution or expenditure.

Follow the steps below to set up your committee in the new system, which will enable you to file the C-5 electronically.

1. At the PDC website pdc.wa.gov, click on the white box with the words File Online in the green banner across the top.

2.  Scroll down to the C-5 Out-of-State Political Committee report and click on the green box with the words "file now."

3. Click on the "Go" button in the Out-of-State Committees box.

If you are not already logged into Secure Access Washington (SAW), the system will redirect you to the SAW log-in page.

 SAW stands for Secure Access Washington. SAW allows you to securely file data with many Washington state agencies. If you already have a SAW account for other PDC filings or state services, you can use it.

If you don't have a SAW account, it's a quick and easy process to get one. You can create a SAW account on this web page. We have video that shows you how here.

4. Once you are logged in, you will see the section "Out-of-state committees I file for." Click on "add committee."

5.  Read the statement and then click on "continue" if you will comply with the provisions.

6.  Fill out the sign-up information and submit when completed.

PDC staff will verify your Out-of-State committee (C-5). Once it has been verified, you will receive an email and then you will be set up to file C-5 reports electronically in the future, without registering again. The next time you start your C-5 filing you will find your committee listed in your profile when you log-in and can select the committee before starting your filing.