This guide is about records and compliance only. Rex Tax does not endorse any candidate, party or position. Elections BC is the authority on election financing rules; this guide summarises them for record-keeping purposes and links to the official sources.
Who this is for
Candidates and financial agents from BC’s October 17, 2026 local elections, elected or not. The filing obligation is the same either way.
The seven records
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The complete contribution log. Every contribution, with name, address, date and amount, including the candidate’s own money and the contribution portion of fundraiser tickets. Check it against the bank deposits.
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Campaign bank statements, start to finish. From the first deposit to the last payment. The statement is the backbone of the disclosure.
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Every expense invoice and receipt. Signs, printing, advertising, venues, websites, travel, office costs. Match each to a bank payment.
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Advertising records. Copies of ads, sponsorship identification, and the invoices. Election advertising has its own disclosure requirements.
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Unpaid bills. Anything owed at the reporting date is disclosed as a campaign debt, with the supplier and amount.
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Reimbursements to the candidate or volunteers. Anything paid personally and repaid by the campaign needs the original receipt and the repayment record. Anything paid personally and not repaid is a contribution from that person.
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Surplus or deficit. If money is left over, the legislation sets out what happens to it. If there is a shortfall, how it is covered is a contribution question. Decide before the statement, not after.
One thing many people do not realize
The campaign account cannot simply be closed and forgotten. Surplus funds and unpaid campaign debts both have rules under the local elections financing legislation, and the disclosure statement has to show them. A candidate who paid the last printing bill personally in November has made a contribution to their own campaign. It is logged and disclosed like any other.
What to prepare
- The contribution log and bank statements reconciled
- Expense file complete, with unpaid items listed separately
- The Elections BC disclosure form for local candidates
- The deadline in the calendar: 90 days after October 17, 2026
When professional help may make sense
A campaign with hundreds of contributions, several events, or a surplus. The financial agent signs the statement and carries the responsibility; organised books are what make that signature safe.
How Rex Tax may be able to help
Post-campaign bookkeeping and reconciliation within our services, so the financial agent can complete the disclosure from accurate records. We do not prepare or sign election disclosure statements as agent or auditor. Elections BC publishes the forms and the guide.
Official sources
- Province of BC: Election advertising and campaign financing rules for local elections
- Elections BC: Local elections FAQs
This guide is general information, not advice about your situation. It reflects the rules for the 2026 tax year. It has not yet been reviewed by a practitioner. The information was checked against the official sources listed above on the date shown. Rules change. Check the official sources above or ask us. How we prepare these guides.