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      Independent expenditures

Independent expenditures In some circumstances, a party committee may need to file specific and separate reports of independent expenditures. These are called 24- and 48-Hour Reports. Electronic filers submit these reports electronically.Paper filers submit these reports by fax or email. For 24- and 48-Hour Reports, a party committee will add up (aggregate) the money it spends on independent expenditures to determine whether it must file these reports. Aggregate on a per-election and per-office basis within each calendar year. For example: Do aggregate an expenditure made on behalf of a candidate with one made against his or her opponent.Don’t aggregate an expenditure made on behalf of a Senate candidate with an expenditure made on behalf of a House candidate.Don’t aggregate two expenditures made on behalf of the same candidate in different elections (for example, if one is during a primary election and the other is during a general election). 48-Hour Reports At any time during a calendar year, including non-election years, through the 20th day before a given election, a party committee must report each time it makes independent expenditures with an aggregate value of $10,000 or more. 48-Hour Reports (Form 3X, Schedule E) are due within 48 hours of each qualifying independent expenditure. This means that reports are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the second day after the expenditure was “publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated.” The party committee will also report these expenditures on Schedule E of its next regularly scheduled Form 3X. Access the Form 3X, Schedule E PDF and instructions. 24-Hour Reports After the 20th day but more than 24 hours before an election, a party committee must report any independent expenditures with an aggregate value of $1,000 or more with respect to a given election. 24-Hour Reports (Form 3X, Schedule E) are due within 24 hours of each qualifying independent expenditure. This means that reports are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the following day after the expenditure was “publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated.” The party committee will also report these expenditures on Schedule E of its next regularly scheduled Form 3X. Access the Form 3X, Schedule E PDF and instructions.
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          Making independent expendituresDefintion of federal election activity (FEA)Purposes of disbursements From the FEC Record Reports due in 2024
 Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Continue learning about this topic Independent expenditure reporting for political committees
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.29(b)(3)Electioneering communication 11 CFR 104.4(b)(2) and (c)Independent expenditures by political committees
 Federal Register notices 68 Fed. Reg. 404, 407Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Reporting 76 Fed Reg. 61254Interpretive rule on when certain independent expenditures are publicly disseminated for reporting purposes


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.


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