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        Handling party loans, debts and advances
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      Advances of personal funds

Advances of personal funds General rule When an individual uses his or her personal funds (or personal credit card) to pay for a committee expense, that payment is generally considered a contribution from that individual if he or she is not reimbursed by the committee within certain time limits: 30 days after payment by cash or personal check; or 60 days after the closing date of the billing statement on which the charges first appear, if the amount was charged to a personal credit card. For example, an in-kind contribution results if a committee staff member or volunteer pays for postage, office supplies or campaign materials with his or her personal funds and is not reimbursed. Travel exception When an individual uses personal funds to pay for his or her own travel expenses (transportation, food and lodging), the payments are not considered contributions if they fall under the travel exception. Exempt travel An individual may spend up to $2,000 per calendar year on his or her own transportation expenses for party-related travel without making a contribution, and a volunteer may spend unlimited amounts for his or her normal subsistence expenses (food and lodging) while volunteering. Reporting reimbursed advances of personal funds When a volunteer or a committee staff member uses his or her personal funds or personal credit to pay a vendor for an expense and is later reimbursed by the committee, special reporting rules apply. Travel expenses reimbursed within 30 or 60 days When an individual is traveling on behalf of a party committee, no contribution results when the committee reimburses the individual for travel expenses within the following time periods: If the individual paid with cash or a personal check, within 30 days from the date the expense was incurred.If the individual paid with a credit card, within 60 days of the closing date on the credit card billing statement.
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      How to report
        Reimbursement of personal funds spent for non-travel expenses
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      How to report
        Reimbursement of personal funds spent for travel expenses
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          Contributions to party committeesVolunteer activityHandling party debts, loans and advances From the FEC Record Interpretive rule on reporting ultimate payees of political committee disbursements
 Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.79Unreimbursed payment for transportation and subsistence expenses 11 CFR 104.3(d)Reporting debts and obligations 11 CFR 104.11Continuous reporting of debts and obligations 11 CFR 116.5(b)Advances by committee staff and other individuals - treatment as contributions 11 CFR 116.5(c)Advances by committee staff and other individuals - treatment as debts
 Advisory opinions AO 1996-20 (footnote 3)Reporting advances AO 1992-01Reporting advances by staff and other individuals


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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