About the CA Form 497 Report

The CA Form 497 has two main uses:

• Primarily, a 24-hour Contribution Report, which is required for contributions received or non-independent expenditure made in the amount or aggregate of $1,000 or more, filed within the 90-day period before an election
• A 10-day report, required for contributions received or non-independent expenditures made in the amount or aggregate of $5,000 or more, filed anytime outside of the 90-day period before an election
• Every time a donation is made, the aggregate resets back to $0. 

Five Hundred Report

This version often used by local agencies, and has a lower itemization amount for contributions received. It can also be used as a Third Pre-Election Report instead of the 460.

• Itemization Amount (for contributions received): $500
• Itemization Amount (for contributions made): $1,000
• Itemization Style: only transactions associated with the Current Election
• Filed: within the 90-day pre-election period

Standard

This version is the commonly most used one.

• Itemization Amount (for all transactions): $1,000
• Itemization Style: only transactions associated with the Current Election
• Filed: within the 90-day pre-election period

Ten Business Day

The version must be filed within 10 business days by state committees that make non-independent expenditures.

• Itemization Amount: $5,000
• Itemization Style: transactions regardless of the Current Election
• Filed: outside of the 90-day pre-election period

Ten Business Day-Qualification

This version must be filed within 10 business days by state committees that make contributions totaling $5,000 or more to support or oppose the qualification or passage of a state or local ballot measure. 

• Itemization Amount: $5,000
• Itemization Style: transactions regardless of the Current Election
• Filed: outside of the 90-day pre-election period
• SPECIAL: use the day after the closing date as the From Date.

Third Pre-Election Report

This version often used by local agencies, and has a lower itemization amount for contributions received. It can also be used as a Third Pre-Election Report instead of the 460.

• Itemization Amount (for contributions received): $100
• Itemization Amount (for contributions made): $1,000
• Itemization Style: only transactions associated with the Current Election
• Filed: within the 90-day pre-election period

Threshold Transactions Only

This version has the same itemization rules as the Standard version, but only list transactions that meet or exceed the itemization threshold, rather than all transactions associated with the entity.

• Itemization Amount (for all transactions): $1,000
• Itemization Style: only transactions associated with the Current Election
• Filed: within the 90-day pre-election period

Transactions Regardless of Current Election

This version has the same itemization rules as the Standard version, but list transactions regardless if they are associated with the Current Election selected when generating the report.

• Itemization Amount (for all transactions): $1,000
• Itemization Style: transactions regardless of the Current Election
• Filed: within the 90-day pre-election period

Two Hundred Fifty Report Itemization

This version often used by local agencies, and has a lower itemization amount for contributions received. It can also be used as a Third Pre-Election Report instead of the 460.

• Itemization Amount (for contributions received): $250
• Itemization Amount (for contributions made): $1,000
• Itemization Style: only transactions associated with the Current Election
• Filed: within the 90-day pre-election period