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        Handling candidate loans, debts and advances
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      Personal loans from the candidate

Personal loans from the candidate Candidates may loan their personal funds for campaign purposes. When they do so, they are making contributions to their campaigns. Unlike other contributions, these candidate contributions are not subject to any limits but are subject to additional reporting.
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      How to report
        Candidate personal funds loans
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      How to report
        Loan principal and interest payments
 Learn more about personal funds of a candidate
 Not considered the candidate's personal funds Personal gifts and loans If any person, including a relative or friend of the candidate, gives or loans the candidate money “for the purpose of influencing any election for federal office,” the funds are not considered personal funds of the candidate even if they are given to the candidate directly. Instead, the gift or loan is considered a contribution from the donor to the campaign, subject to the per-election limit and reportable by the campaign. This is true even if the candidate uses the funds for personal living expenses while campaigning. Bank loans used in connection with campaign Bank loans are not considered contributions from the bank if they comply with FEC regulations on bank loans. When a candidate obtains a bank loan for use in connection with his or her campaign, the loan is considered to be from the bank and not from the candidate’s personal funds. The candidate is acting as the agent of the campaign.
 Learn more about bank loans
 Forgiving personal loans The candidate may choose to forgive all or a part of a loan from his or her personal funds to the campaign. The candidate must file a signed statement indicating that he or she forgives the loan.
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          Taking in receiptsBank loansBrokerage loans From the FEC Record Campaign debt
 Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.33Personal funds 11 CFR 100.52Gifts, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money 11 CFR 110.10Expenditures by candidates
 Explanation and Justifications for FEC regulations 11 CFR 116.11Restriction on an authorized committee's repayment of personal loans exceeding $250,000 made by the candidate to the authorized committee 11 CFR 116.12Repayment of candidate loans of $250,000 or less
 Advisory opinions AO 2008-22Repayment of candidate's personal loans to principal campaign committee for prior elections AO 2008-09Severability of BCRA loan repayment provision AO 2003-30Retiring campaign debt and repaying candidate loans AO 1991-10Candidate's use of jointly held assets AO 1990-09Newsletter published by candidate as sole proprietor AO 1985-33Personal loans to candidate for his campaign AO 1985-10Candidate's loan liquidated by his estate AO 1984-60Campaign debts liquidated through sale of partnership assets AO 1979-05Committee termination


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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