OLMS · Federal (United States)
What financial reports must a labor union file with the Department of Labor?
Most private-sector labor unions file an annual financial report with the Department of Labor’s OLMS under the LMRDA. Which form — LM-2, LM-3, or LM-4 — depends on total annual receipts. The report is due within 90 days after the end of the union’s fiscal year and is public.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor — Office of Labor-Management Standards ↗
Rules in, categorized books, one filing anyone can independently verify.
Overview
The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) requires labor organizations to file an annual financial report with the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). The report discloses receipts, disbursements, assets, liabilities, and officer compensation.
The form is determined by total annual receipts. Larger unions file the detailed, itemized LM-2 electronically; mid-size unions file the LM-3; the smallest file the simplified LM-4.
All filed reports are public and searchable in the OLMS Online Public Disclosure Room, making union financial transparency a matter of federal record.
Filings & deadlines
| Filing | Who files it | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Form LM-2 | Unions with total annual receipts of $250,000 or more (and unions in trusteeship) | Within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year |
| Form LM-3 | Total annual receipts of $10,000 or more but less than $250,000 | Within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year |
| Form LM-4 | Total annual receipts less than $10,000 | Within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year |
Not legal or tax advice. Deadlines and thresholds change — always confirm against the authoritative source before filing.
Statute & sources
Frequently asked questions
When is a union’s LM report due?
Annual financial reports (LM-2, LM-3, or LM-4) must be filed within 90 days after the end of the union’s fiscal year. There is no automatic extension of this statutory deadline.
What determines whether we file LM-2, LM-3, or LM-4?
Total annual receipts. Unions with receipts of $250,000 or more file the LM-2; $10,000 to under $250,000 file the LM-3; under $10,000 file the LM-4. Unions in trusteeship file the LM-2.
Are union financial reports public?
Yes. Reports filed under the LMRDA are public records, searchable through the OLMS Online Public Disclosure Room by union name, file number, or location.
Which unions must file with OLMS?
Labor organizations with members in private-sector employment covered by the LMRDA. Certain unions representing only government employees may be outside OLMS jurisdiction.