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59.1. How Do I E-File My Louisiana Report?

E-Filing Your Louisiana Report

 

Aristotle currently offers complete and "ready to file" e-files for the Louisiana State Report!

How Do I Download the E-File?

 

Unfortunately, the state does not currently allow third-party vendors to e-file directly into their system from other software products. That said, all you need to do is download the e-file output and then upload it into the state's system! The easiest way to do this is right click on the link for the e-file output, select "Save As", give it a suitable file name while leaving the file extension as it is, and save the file.

 

 

 

How Do I Upload the E-File I Just Downloaded?

 

Before you can file ANY reports, you will need to register your committee with the Louisiana Ethics Administration's LEADERS program.  The LEADERS program can be accessed via desktop software or through their online portal. Access to the online portal is available on their website in the Campaign Finance section, as well as instructions on how to obtain the desktop software. Here's a link directly to it:

http://ethics.la.gov/CampFinanLeadersDownload.aspx

You will then need to follow these steps:

1) Go to the above link, and click the hyperlink called "LEADERS PDP - Web-based LaLoad and LaPrint"
2) You'll be taken to the online filing portal page where you will need to log in using your state-provided username and password
3) Click "Select" to search for the previously downloaded and saved .PDP file  
4) Click "Validate File" 
5) After the file has successfully be validated, click the "Upload" button

 

 

 

General Warnings

 

We advise clients to never open the efile output before uploading unless it's strictly necessary. Often times various programs like Excel, Notepad, etc, will auto-format files in ways that renders them non-compliant with state requirements. For example, Excel will drop the leading zeros on values in cells, which can be problematic when dealing with LA zip codes.

Some states have invented file extensions for their efiles that need to be preserved, or they use older file extensions than what is generally used and can be overwritten. For example, many states have the file extension .csv for their efiles, which Excel will try to override when saving since it's generally not used. Please ensure to keep the file extension as it is so the state's system will accept the file.

Louisiana's e-filing system accepts full reports, with one e-file formatted as a .pdp text file. This means that the electronic format has all of the information already formatted for how the state wants these reports to appear. There's no additional steps required for preparing the report for submission beyond uploading the report. This also means that it is more difficult to make small changes to the report once it's submitted, if it's possible at all.