2009 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 2009. 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. 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.

• Web Page: Electronic Filing Page
• Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees (Candidate Guide), pp. 82-84 [PDF]

Paper Filing - Meeting the Filing Deadline

Paper Report filing options -- Registered, Certified or Overnight or First Class Mail.

• Web Page: Link to Paper Forms (for downloading and printing)
• Candidate Guide, p. 81 [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.

• Statement of Policy Regarding Treasurers Subject to Enforcement Proceedings [PDF]
• Candidate Guide, p. 7 [PDF]

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). 3

• Web Page: Administrative Fine Program
• Candidate Guide, pp. 81-82 [PDF]

2009 REPORTING SCHEDULE

• Web Page: 2009 Reporting Dates Page
• The Record January 2009 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].

3 Penalties for late-or non-filing of 48-hour notices are based on the amount of contributions not timely disclosed. As a result, these penalties may exceed $16,000, even for first-time violations.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL: (800) 424-9530 or (202) 694-1100