U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP)

Frequently Asked Questions... about Financial Disclosure Form (SF-714)

Sections include:

Overview;  |  Employee Identification;  |  Annual Income;  |  Bank Accounts;  |  Investment Accounts;  |  Owned Real Estate;  |  Owned Vehicles, Boat, Airplanes, Other;  |  Real Estate You Lease or Rent From Another;  |  Leased Vehicles, Boats, Airplanes, Other;  |  Other Assets;  |  Mortgages, Loans;  |  Other Liabilities;  |  Additional Income/Bankruptcy;  |  Safe Deposit Box;  |  Additional Comments;  |  Certification;

Owned Real Estate

1. With regard to the purchase price of real estate, do you mean the actual purchase price or the amount of my original mortgage?
2. What real estate needs to be reported?
3. I have made improvements to my property over the years but do not remember how much I spent. What should I do?
4. What is the difference between capital improvement costs and repairs?
5. Since I have a mortgage on my house, do I still report the house information in the Owned Real Estate section?
6. My name is listed on the deed of a relative's house who actually owns the house. Does that mean I must claim it as property that I own jointly with that person?
7. Should a timeshare be listed on the FDF?
8. I own real estate in Puerto Rico and Guam, should that be considered U.S. or Foreign?

1. With regard to the purchase price of real estate, do you mean the actual purchase price or the amount of my original mortgage?

   Purchase price means the actual total amount you paid for your house, not just the mortgage amount or the down payment.

2. With regard to the purchase price of real estate, do you mean the actual purchase price or the amount of my original mortgage?

   Purchase price means the actual total amount you paid for your house, not just the mortgage amount or the down payment.

3. What real estate needs to be reported?

   All real estate owned with a purchase price of $5,000 or more must be reported. (Some examples include: unimproved land, commercial real estate, farmland, condominiums, residential real estate, interest in cooperatives, boat slips, rental property, time shares).

4. I have made improvements to my property over the years but do not remember how much I spent. What should I do?

   Assuming the amount is $5,000 or more, report your best estimate in the Capital Improvement Costs field. Also, explain in the Additional Comments field that the amount listed was an estimate.

5. What is the difference between capital improvement costs and repairs?

   Capital improvement costs are those where money has been spent that adds value to the property, prolongs its useful life, or adapts it to new uses. Examples of improvements include paneling a den, adding a new room and putting up a new fence. This is different from repairs that keep your property in good operating condition. If the cumulative capital improvement costs are less than $5,000, they should NOT be reported.

6. Since I have a mortgage on my house, do I still report the house information in the Owned Real Estate section?

   Yes. You should report all real estate you own within the Real Estate section. You own your house even though you have a mortgage.

7. My name is listed on the deed of a relative's house who actually owns the house. Does that mean I must claim it as property that I own jointly with that person?

   Yes. List the purchase price but also comment in the Additional Comments field the fact that the house actually belongs to a named relative and your name is on the deed.

8. Should a timeshare be listed on the FDF?

   Yes, if you paid $5,000 or more for the timeshare. You should list it within the Owned Real Estate section.

9. I own real estate in Puerto Rico and Guam, should that be considered U.S. or foreign?

   United States territories including Puerto Rico and Guam should be considered as U.S. under the Financial Disclosure Program.

Back to Top