Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Getting Started
- Software Download and Install
- MERTS Menu Functions
- Setting Up a Committee
- MERTS File Extension
- Add New or Modify Names
- Importing Names
- Exporting Names
- Add New or Modify Reports
- Importing Transactions
- Exporting Transactions
- Add New or Modify Election Cycle
- Add New or Modify Fund Raiser
- Add New or Modify Direct Contributions
- Add New or Modify Other Receipts
- Add New or Modify In-Kind Contributions
- Add New or Modify Campaigns
- Add New or Modify Direct Expenditures
- Add New or Modify GOTV Expenditures
- Add New or Modify In-Kind Expenditures
- Add New or Modify Independent Expenditures
- Add New or Modify Disbursements
- Add New or Modify Loans Owed BY the Committee
- Add New or Modify Debts Owed TO the Committee
- Add New or Modify Debts Owed BY the Committee
- Add New or Modify Payments to Debts or Loans
- Contribution and Expenditure Limits
- View and Print Campaign Report
- All Transactions Tab
- Run, View and Print Validation Report
- Closing, Adding Treasurer and Uploading Report
- Amending a Campaign Report
- Backing up and Restoring Files
To make a payment to a Debt or a Loan owed by the committee you must be sure the loan was entered properly through line 12a or 12b in the Summary Page & Data Entry tab. Once the loan is created locate the loan/debt from the ‘All Transactions’ tab as shown below:
MERTS Step-by-Step for Payments to Debt/Loan Video
- Under the View menu select the All Transactions option.
- Locate the loan and right click to select New Payment.

- Select the type of payment. To apply a direct payment to the loan select ‘Direct Expenditure’.
- Select ‘Ok’ to continue.

- Enter date payment was made.
- Enter the amount of the payment.
- Select ‘Ok’ to continue.

Note: To forgive the entire existing balance of debt or loan, follow steps 1 through 5 again. Do not add an amount. Select the ‘Forgiven’ box. This will forgive the loan or debt and will no longer show on later reports filed.