April Campaign Finance Filings: PAC Deadlines and Waiver Considerations
Lisa Farnum, MPP is President of L Farnum, Inc., a firm that specializes in PAC compliance, research and project management. Lisa has been helping clients resolve campaign finance issues and maintain compliance for more than 23 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Northwood University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, Dearborn. Ms. Farnum has over 25 years of experience working with corporations and non-profits.
Candidate Committees
No April reports due. Candidate committees file in July or in their applicable pre-primary report.
The full 2025–2026 Campaign Finance Filing Schedule published by the Michigan Bureau of Elections is available here: 2025–2026 Filing Schedule (PDF)
Political Action Committees, Independent Committees & Independent Expenditure Committees
2026 Filing Deadlines
April 27, 2026
July 27, 2026
October 26, 2026
April Quarterly Report
Coverage Period: January 1, 2026 – April 20, 2026
Filing Deadline: April 27, 2026
This applies unless the committee qualifies for (and maintains) a reporting waiver.
Compliance Tip: Verify waiver status as of the close of books
Before relying on a filing waiver (including “no activity” or “no election participation”), confirm and document that the committee still meets all statutory waiver criteria as of April 20, 2026—not just at the start of the cycle. Accepting a late contribution, making an expenditure, or becoming involved in an election mid-cycle can void a waiver and trigger a filing obligation on April 27.
Contribution Limits
Contribution limits are tied to election cycles and the office sought; longer cycles allow higher limits. Independent PACs may give up to ten times the applicable individual limit. Limits are adjusted every four years.
Current official state-level limits are posted by the Bureau of Elections here: State-Level Contribution Limits (PDF)
Final Notes
This article is intended as a guide. Every filing situation is fact-specific, and compliance obligations can change based on election participation, committee activity, or statutory updates.
Questions: LFarnum@farnuminc.com
Michigan Bureau of Elections: michigan.gov/sos/elections/disclosure/cfr
Consult legal counsel as appropriate.
