HOW TO DISCLOSE MERCHANT PROVIDER FEES
IN THE NON-DEPOSITORY SYSTEM
This illustrated guide for local filers demonstrates how to disclose credit and debit card contributions made through
merchant providers, such as PayPal, ActBlue and WinRed.
Local filers include all town candidates, as well as city candidates with two exceptions – mayors, and city council
candidates in cities with populations of 65,000 or more.
HOW TO DISCLOSE MERCHANT PROVIDER FEES
When a candidate or committee raises money on-line, using a merchant provider, the fee for using a credit or debit
card must be disclosed.
In this example, a candidate for school committee received a $1,000 contribution
via his website. He uses PayPal to process his credit and debit card contributions.
HOW TO DISCLOSE MERCHANT PROVIDER FEES
The candidate will report a receipt on Schedule A of the M102 campaign finance form for the full $1,000 amount,
even though PayPal kept $20 as a processing fee and the actual deposit in the bank was for $980.
Report the full amount of the original
contribution.
TIP: When collecting credit or debit card contributions, the donor must provide his or her name and residential address, as well as occupation and
employer if the contribution is $200 or more, at the time the contribution is made. The donor must also confirm that the money they are
contributing is their own.
HOW TO DISCLOSE MERCHANT PROVIDER FEES
The candidate will report an expenditure on Schedule B, showing the fee charged by PayPal. If the candidate had
several fees, he or she may combine the fees into one total and explain in the “purpose” field: “PayPal fees July
through October.”
