Lobbying Registration and Reporting Frequently Asked Questions
Lobbyist Registration Online Filing Application
For more detailed information, please see our online filing instructions.
1. What are some of the advantages of filing electronically?
The Commission encourages all lobbyists, clients and public corporations to file online. Electronic filing has several advantages not available to paper filers including twenty-four hour, seven days a week availability, credit card fee payment option and daily access to all filings. The online system also automatically reviews your reports for filing errors before you submit the report.
2. What do I do when the User ID & Password will not log into the system?
Please call or e-mail the Commission's helpdesk at 518-474-3973 or helpdesk@nyintegrity.org.
3. Can a User ID and Password be received through the mail?
No. For security reasons, the Commission's Information Technology staff does not have access to users' online passwords. It is the Commission's policy not to send passwords via U.S. Mail; all passwords are sent via e-mail.
4. How do I retrieve the affidavit if it becomes lost when applying for a User ID & Password?
Unfortunately, if the affidavit disappears from your computer screen, you need to call Commission staff to reject the profile and you will have to file again.
5. Do I have to complete the form all at once?
No. You may choose to save your partially completed registration or report to finish at a later time rather than submit it immediately. It is important to note that a saved form cannot be counted as a submission for filing purposes or to meet filing deadlines. Nor can Commission staff retrieve or submit a report you have chosen to save. Please be sure to review your Saved Form Queue, found on the Lobbyist Menu page, on a regular basis to finish and submit all of your saved reports by their filing deadlines to avoid late fees or civil penalty fines.
6. What do I do if "Page cannot be displayed" appears when submitting an online report?
If you do not save your form and there is no activity for 30 minutes when logged on to the application, the application will automatically log you off and your data will be lost. If you log back in to the system, the form you were trying to complete should be in your saved queue. If you are still experiencing a problem please call or e-mail the Commission's helpdesk at 518-474-3973 or helpdesk@nyintegrity.org.
7. What do I do if my files (contracts) will not upload?
If you cannot upload a contract, please call or e-mail the Commission's helpdesk at 518-474-3973 or helpdesk@nyintegrity.org.
8. What do I do if an online filing has no "workflow" after submission?
If a filing has no workflow, please call or e-mail the Commission's helpdesk at 518-474-3973 or helpdesk@nyintegrity.org.
9. How many times can an "online report" be re-submitted for a credit card payment if it fails to go through the first time?
The Commission's online application will allow the user to attempt to pay by credit card twice before the user is locked out. After you are locked out, you must then pay by check.
10. How do I print out a paper copy of my completed form?
In your browser, go to "File", then "Print" and choose "ok." Your completed form will print with your confirmation number.
11. Is that the letter "O" or the number zero in my User ID?
The User ID only contains numeric characters.
12. Can reports be faxed?
Reports cannot be faxed; the Commission requires an original filing.
13. What are the Lobbyist Bimonthly Report filing Deadlines?
There are twelve reporting periods per biennial reporting period:
- January 1 - last day of February -- (Report due March 15)
- March 1 - April 30 -- (Report due May 15)
- May 1 - June 30 -- (Report due July 15)
- July 1 - August 31 -- (Report due September 15)
- September 1 - October 31 -- (Report due November 15)
- November 1 - December 31 -- (Report due January 15)
14. What are the Client Semi-Annual Report filing deadlines?
There are two Semi-Annual reporting periods:
- January 1 - June 30 -- (Report due July 15)
- July 1 - December 31 -- (Report due January 15)
15. What are the Public Corporation Bimonthly Report filing deadlines?
There are twelve reporting periods per biennial reporting period:
- January 1 - last day of February -- (Report due March 15)
- March 1 - April -- (Report due May 15)
- May 1 - June 30 -- (Report due July 15)
- July 1 - August 31 -- (Report due September 15)
- September 1 - October 31 -- (Report due November 15)
- November 1 - December 31 -- (Report due January 15)
16. Is there a Lobbyist Registration filing fee?
A $200 non-refundable registration fee is required to be submitted with each Lobbyist Statement of Registration filed for the biennial period that a lobbyist reasonably anticipates exceeding $5,000 in compensation and expenses for any year in the biennial period. Any biennial Lobbyist Statement of Registration submitted after January 1 of the second calendar year of the biennial period shall be accompanied by a prorated registration fee of $100. Please note: This proration does not apply to biennial Lobbyist Registrations that are filed late and cover the entire biennial period or a portion of both calendar years within the biennial period. In this case, a $200 fee is due at the time of submission. In general, no fee is required for an amended biennial Statement of Registration, provided an original is on file for that same biennial period. No registration fee is required to be submitted with a biennial Lobbyist Statement of Registration if the lobbyist will not exceed $5,000 in compensation and expenses for that client.
Each Statement of Registration must be accompanied by a non-refundable, filing fee. Any filing fees paid by check will have to be paid separately from other filings; i.e. one check per filing, made payable to the New York State Commission on Public Integrity. Any check that includes filing fees for more than one report will be returned to you by the Commission. This change is necessary to facilitate the Commission's computer application program. Filing fees may still be paid online with Visa, MasterCard or American Express. A fee may be charged for a return check.
17. Is there a Client Semi-Annual Report filing fee?
Each Client Semi-Annual Report must be accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable filing fee. Any filing fees paid by check will have to be paid separately from other filings; i.e., one check per filing, made payable to the New York State Commission on Public Integrity. Any check that includes filing fees for more than one report will be returned to you by the Commission. This change is necessary to facilitate the Commission's computer application program. Filing fees may still be paid online with Visa, MasterCard or American Express. No additional fee is required for amended Semi-Annual Reports, provided an original is on file for that period. A fee may be charged for a returned check.
Please note "Public Corporations" required to file Client Semi-Annual Reports are required to pay the $50 Client Semi-Annual Report filing fee.