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Federal Election Commission | United States of America

Supplemental filing information for congressional committees (2019)

Please note: The Commission provides reminders of upcoming filing dates as a courtesy to help committees comply with the filing deadlines set forth in the Act and Commission regulations. Committee treasurers must comply with all applicable filing deadlines established by law, and the lack of prior notice does not constitute an excuse for failing to comply with any filing deadline.

Who must file

Principal campaign committees of current and former congressional candidates [1] (including unopposed candidates and candidates whose names do not appear on the ballot) must file quarterly reports in 2019. [2]

Before a committee can stop filing with the FEC, it must file a termination report with the Commission. Committees must continue to file reports until the Commission notifies them in writing that their termination report has been accepted.

Methods of filing reports

Electronic filing

Reports filed electronically must be received and validated by the Commission by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the filing deadline.

Paper filing: Meeting the filing deadline

Paper report filing options include registered, certified or overnight [3] or First Class Mail.

Compliance

Treasurer responsibility

Committee treasurers are responsible for both the timeliness and the accuracy of all reports. They may be subject to monetary penalties if reports are inaccurate or are not filed on time.

Administrative Fine Program

Under the Administrative Fine Program, political committees and their treasurers who fail to file their reports, or who file late, may be subject to civil money penalties up to $23,254 (or more for repeat late- and non-filers). [4]

Disclosure of lobbyist bundling activity

Principal campaign committees must file FEC Form 3L if they receive two or more bundled contributions from any lobbyist/registrant or lobbyist/registrant PACs that aggregate in excess of $18,700 during the applicable reporting periods. Learn more about the lobbyist bundling disclosure requirements. Access the PDF and instructions.

Important filing information: Paper filers

The U.S. Postal Service irradiates mail directed to many federal agencies, including the FEC. This process not only delays mail delivery, it also damages and in some cases destroys pieces of mail. As a result, committees that file reports with the FEC may want to consider submitting their reports by some means other than U.S. mail. Alternative methods include electronic filing, overnight mail or delivery service, and hand delivery.


Footnotes:

[1] Generally, an individual becomes a candidate for federal office (and thus triggers registration and reporting obligations) when his or her campaign exceeds $5,000 in either contributions received or expenditures made. If the campaign has not crossed the $5,000 threshold, it is not required to file reports.

[2] If a candidate has more than one authorized committee, the principal campaign committee files a consolidated report on Form 3Z (PDF) in addition to filing on Form 3 (PDF).

[3] "Overnight mail" includes Priority or Priority Express Mail having a delivery confirmation, or an overnight service with which the report is scheduled for next business day delivery and is recorded in the service's online tracking system. Note that "Express Mail" as referred to in FEC regulations has been renamed "Priority Express Mail" by the USPS.

[4] Penalties for late- and non-filing of 48-Hour Notices are based on the amount of contributions received that are not timely disclosed. As a result, these penalties may exceed $23,254, even for first-time violations.

From the FEC Record

Need help?

Get help from the FEC by phone or email

Legal citations

Regulations

11 CFR 100.3(a)
Definition. Candidate

11 CFR 100.19
File, filed, or filing

11 CFR 102.3
Termination of registration

11 CFR 104.3(f)
Contents of reports

11 CFR 104.5(a), (e), and (f)
Filing dates

11 CFR 104.14(d)
Formal requirements regarding reports and statements

11 CFR 104.18
Electronic filing of reports

11 CFR 104.22(b)
Disclosure of bundling by Lobbyist/Registrants and Lobbyist/Registrants PACs

11 CFR 110.17(e)(2), (f)
Price index increases

11 CFR 111.43
What are the schedule of penalties?

11 CFR 111 Subpart B
Administrative fines

11 CFR 111.44
What is the schedule of penalties for 48-hour notices that are not filed or filed late?

Federal Register notices

82 Fed. Reg. 61140 (December 27, 2017)
Civil monetary penalties annual inflation adjustments

74 Fed. Reg. 7285 (February 17, 2009)
Reporting contributions bundled by lobbyists, registrants, and the PACs of lobbyists and registrants

70 Fed. Reg. 3 (January 3, 2005)
Statement of policy regarding treasurers subject to enforcement proceedings

This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.

The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.