Redesignating and reattributing contributions
When a committee receives an excessive contribution—one which exceeds the contributor’s limit or the campaign’s net debts outstanding for an election—the committee may remedy the violation by refunding the excessive amount or by seeking a redesignation or reattribution of it within 60 days.
Learn more about remedying excessive contributions.
Reporting on candidate forms
House and Senate committees report redesignated or reattributed contributions from individuals on Form 3, Line 11(a). A contribution from an individual is itemized on Schedule A, supporting Line 11(a)(i) when it:
- exceeds $200 or
- aggregates over $200 when added to other contributions received from the same source during the election cycle.
Contribution given and redesignated/reattributed in the same reporting period
If the original contribution and redesignation/reattribution occurred in the same reporting period, report the contribution as it was originally received. Then, use memo entries to report the information about the contribution as it has been redesignated and/or reattributed, including the date the redesignation and/or reattribution was made.
For this redesignation, the committee reports the contribution as it was originally received from Abigail Adams on Line 11(a)(i). The first memo entry shows the amount that will be redesignated coming out of Abigail's primary contribution. The second memo entry shows that amount redesignated as a general contribution. The memo entries disclose the contributor’s information and the date that the redesignation was made.
Contribution given and redesignated/reattributed in different reporting periods
If the original contribution and redesignation/reattribution occurred in different reporting periods, include a memo entry in the report covering the period when the redesignation/reattribution occurred to disclose the original contribution information. Then, use additional memo entries to disclose the information about the redesignation and/or reattribution, including the date the redesignation and/or reattribution was made.
For this reattribution, the original contribution was given during the last reporting period. The committee made the reattribution during this reporting period. Since the original contribution was already disclosed in the last report, the committee reports the contribution as it was originally received on Line 11(a)(i) as a memo entry. The next memo entry shows the amount that will be reattributed coming out of Abigail's primary contribution. The third memo entry shows that amount reattributed to John Adams, going into his primary contribution. The memo entries disclose the contributors’ information and the date that the reattribution was made.
Reporting with FECFile
Right click on the contribution that you want to redesignate/reattribute, select “Redesignate/Reattribute,” and select whether you want to redesignate or reattribute.
