2010 SUPPLEMENTAL FILING INFORMATION
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
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 congressional candidates 1 (including unopposed candidates and candidates whose names do not appear on the ballot) must file Quarterly Reports in 2010. 2
Campaigns that raise or spend more than $5,000 for the 2010 election cycle (and thus trigger registration and reporting requirements) must file quarterly reports throughout 2010, even if the candidate plans to retire, withdraws from the race prior to the primary election, loses the primary or drops out of the race prior to the general election. 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. See 11 CFR 102.3.
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 -- Registered, Certified or Overnight or First Class Mail.
48 HOUR NOTICES ON CONTRIBUTIONS
Notices are required if the committee receives any contribution (including in-kind gifts or advances of goods or services; Loans from the candidate or other non-bank sources; and guarantees or endorsements of bank loans to the candidate or committee) of $1,000 or more per source, during the period less than 20 days but more than 48 hours before any election in which the candidate is running.
The notices, which may be filed using Form 6, must reach the appropriate federal and/or state filing office(s) within 48 hours of the committee’s receipt of the contribution(s).
PRE- AND POST-ELECTION REPORTS
A committee whose candidate participates in a 2010 state primary, nominating convention or runoff election -- even if unopposed -- must also file a pre-election report 12 days prior to the primary, nominating convention or runoff. The campaign committee of a candidate who participates in the general election must file pre- and post-general election reports.
- Web Page: 2010 Reporting Dates Page -- available in late 2009
- The Record January 2010 issue [PDF]
- Candidate Guide, pp. 79-80 [PDF]
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
Political committees and their treasurers who fail to file their reports on time may be subject to civil money penalties up to $16,000 (or more for repeat late- and non-filers).
2010 REPORTING SCHEDULE
- Web Page: 2010 Reporting Dates Page -- available in late 2009
- The Record January 2010 issue [PDF]
- Candidate Guide, p. 79 [PDF]
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 or expenditures. If the campaign has not crossed the $5,000 threshold, it is not required to file reports. See also 11 CFR 100.3(a).
2 If a candidate has more than one authorized committee, the principal campaign committee must also file a consolidated report on Form 3Z [PDF].
FOR INFORMATION, CALL: (800) 424-9530 or (202) 694-1100
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