Getting started with the FECFile Online Pilot

To participate in the testing for FECFile, you must start by creating a test committee.

1. Get started by going to the test Form 1 webform.
2. Click the “Proceed” button and “Agree” to the Legal Disclosure.
3. Next, click “New” to register a new test Form 1.
4. Enter your email address and click “Continue.”
   Note: You must use the same email address to create your test login.gov account and test FECFile committee account in future steps.
5. In your email client, you will receive an email with an authentication code. Enter that code on the next page of the webform and click “Continue.”
6. Next, when asked whether your committee is authorized by a candidate, click “No.”
   Note: During the initial pilot of FECFile, you will need to create a non-candidate committee. The initial testing is restricted to Form 3X (not including Schedule F, or allocation schedules). Test committees will also be labeled “Qualified.”
7. Choose between “Party Committee” or “Other Political Action Committee” and click “Continue.” If you choose “Other Political Action Committee,” also select “Nonconnected Committee” on the next page.
8. On the next few pages, follow the prompts to provide additional committee type information as well as details such as committee name and address, treasurer and bank.
9. Once you have completed your test Form 1 webform, you will be prompted to submit your filing. Certify your filing and click “Submit.”
10. Your test Form 1 will be processed and you will be issued a test committee ID number. You will also receive the committee ID number via email. Be sure to hold onto your committee ID number - you will need it to register a test FECFile committee account.

An optional next step, now that you have registered your committee, you can create a test electronic filing password. This will allow you to eventually submit unofficial test filings in FECFile for this pilot. This can be done now, or later.

1. Get started by going to the test password assignment system.
2. Click “Enroll Now” to begin the process of obtaining a test electronic filing password.
3. Enter your test committee ID number. Check the box confirming that “I am the duly appointed treasurer or authorized person” and click “Next.”
4. Read the security notification, then click “Consent and continue” to proceed.
5. You will be prompted to confirm that your test committee has never before been enrolled in the Electronic Filing Password Assignment System. Click “Enroll.”
6. Enter your email address. This will be the same email you used to submit your test Form 1.
7. Click “Confirm” after verifying your test committee information.
8. You will receive a confirmation email from the Electronic Filing Office in your email inbox, Click “Confirm your email.”
9. Next, you will be returned to the test password assignment system, and you should enter a test electronic filing password, then click “Continue.”
   Note: Your password will need to meet the requirements listed on the page.
10. Enter a phone number to receive either a text or phone call to receive a security code. Once you make your selection, click “Send Security Code.”
11. Enter the security code, then click “Submit.”
12. You will then receive a Personal Key. Save this Personal Key for future use. You will also be prompted to re-enter it in an upcoming step to complete the password assignment process and receive a test electronic filing password. Click, “Continue.”
13. Confirm you saved the Personal Key.
14. Enter your Personal Key.
15. You have now completed the test password assignment process.

After creating a test committee, you will need to create a test login.gov account. To create your login.gov account, you will need the same email address you provided when you agreed to participate in the testing, as well as when you created your test committee on Form 1.

Learn more about Login.gov

To create your test login.gov account:

1. Go to the FECFile test website.
2. Click the “Sign in with Login.gov” button or the “Sign in” link in the upper-right corner of the homepage.
3. Select “Create an account”
   1. Enter the email address you used to create your test committee.
   2. Select your email language preference
   3. Check the checkbox after you read and accept the Login.gov Rules of Use
   4. Click “Submit."
4. Go to your email inbox and check for an email from Login.gov titled “Confirm your email” and click the large “Confirm email address” button.
5. You will be redirected to a new page to create a strong password. Then click “Continue”.
6. Choose a multi-factor authentication method. There are multiple methods available that you can choose from, including: authentication application, text or voice message, security key, or backup codes. We suggest the text or voice message option. After choosing an option, click “Continue.”
   1. If you selected the text or voice message option, add a phone number, then select how you’ll get your code. We suggest text message (SMS); and click the “Send code” button.
   2. Enter your one-time code sent to your mobile device, then click the “Submit” button.
7. At this point, you can choose to add another multi-factor authentication method or “Skip for now.” If you choose to add another authentication method, follow the steps as applicable.
8. You will see a confirmation that your information will be shared with FECFile (Test). Select the “Agree and continue” button to be redirected back to the FECFile test website and see “Welcome to FECFile”.
9. You have now completed the test login.gov account creation process.

Now that you have your test committee and login.gov account created, let’s get you set up in FECFile. Starting with your user profile.

1. Enter your last name
2. Enter your first name
3. Verify your email address is correct
4. Click the “Continue” button

To access your test committee accounts, you must consent to the FECFile security notification.

1. Read the security notification
2. Optional: Check the checkbox saying “You consent to the security notification for one year”.
   Note: If the security notification changes, you may have to consent to it again in less than one year.
3. Click the “Consent” button

Finally, you need to create your test committee account in FECFile. To create your test FECFile committee account, you must first register a test committee using the test Form 1 webform and have a committee ID number.

1. Click the “Create a new committee account” button.
2. Type the committee ID number you received after registering your test committee and click the magnifying glass to search for your committee.
3. Once you find your committee, click the “Create account” button.
4. You’re done! Welcome to FECFile!

Returning Pilot participants: Sign into FECFile

Have questions or feedback about creating reports during the FECFile Pilot?

If you would like a response from the FECFile Pilot Team on the issues or feedback you share, email fecfile-pilot@fec.gov.

Or, to share anonymous feedback, use the feedback box in the bottom-right corner on any page in FECFile.