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      Handling a questionable contribution

Handling a questionable contribution A campaign is prohibited from knowingly accepting any contributions from prohibited sources. The treasurer of a political committee is responsible for examining all contributions to make sure they are not illegal (that is, prohibited or excessive). Screening contributions When campaigns accept contributions from groups that are not political committees registered with the FEC (such as state PACs, unregistered local party committees or nonfederal campaigns), they must make sure that the funds are permissible under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act). This is important because campaign laws in some states permit nonfederal political groups to accept funds that would violate the limits and prohibitions of the Act. To avoid a possible violation of the Act, a campaign must be certain that an unregistered group making a contribution: Can demonstrate through a reasonable accounting method that it has sufficient federally permissible funds to cover the amount of the contribution or expenditure at the time it is made; orHas established a separate account containing only funds permissible under the Act. When itemizing a contribution from an unregistered organizations in its report, a campaign should note that the contribution contains only federally permissible funds. Contributions from such unregistered organizations are subject to contribution limits for individuals and other persons. These organizations should be aware, however, that making contributions to federal campaigns and political committees may trigger their own registration as a federal political committee. State political action committees sponsored by corporations, labor organizations or trade associations, in particular, must register as federal separate segregated funds within 10 days of the decision to make a contribution to a federal candidate. Additional requirements regarding their solicitations also apply. Contributions by other types of unregistered organizations (for example, local party organizations or committees not sponsored by an incorporated entity or labor organization) count against a $1,000 per year aggregate registration threshold.
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      How to report
        Contributions from unregistered organizations
 How to handle a questionable contribution If a committee receives a contribution of questionable legality, it must follow the procedures outlined in this section. Procedures for handling contributions that exceed the contribution limits or the campaign’s net debts outstanding are described on Raising contributions to retire debts. Return or deposit contribution When receiving a contribution of questionable legality, a committee must, within 10 days of the treasurer’s receipt, take one of two steps: Return the contribution to the donor without depositing it; orDeposit the contribution. Be prepared to make refund If it decides to deposit the questionable contribution, the committee must make sure that the funds are not spent because they may have to be refunded. To ensure this, the committee may either maintain sufficient funds in its regular campaign depository or establish a separate account used solely for the deposit of possibly illegal contributions. Document the possibility of illegal contribution The committee must keep a written record noting the reason why a contribution may be prohibited and must include this information when reporting the receipt of the contribution. Seek evidence of legality Within 30 days of the treasurer’s receipt of a possibly prohibited contribution, the committee must make at least one written or oral request for evidence that the contribution is legal. Evidence of legality includes, for example, a written statement from the contributor explaining why the contribution is legal, or an oral explanation that is recorded by the committee in a memorandum. Confirm legality or refund contribution Within these 30 days, the committee must either: Confirm the legality of the contribution; orRefund the contribution. Disgorge prohibited contributions discovered late If a committee deposits a contribution that appears to be legal and later discovers that it is prohibited (based on new information not available when the contribution was deposited), the committee must disgorge the contribution within 30 days of making the discovery. For example, the committee finds out that a corporation reimbursed employees for their contributions to the committee (and had thus made corporate contributions and contributions in the name of another). Contributor known If the identity of the original contributor is known, the committee must refund the funds to the source of the original contribution. Alternatively, the committee may pay the funds to the U.S. Treasury. To do so, send the funds to: U.S. Department of the TreasuryBureau of the Fiscal ServiceP.O. Box 1328Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328Attn: Agency Cash Branch, Avery 3G The committee should include a cover letter that explains that the funds being sent represent potential violations of the Act and requests that the funds be placed in the “general fund account.”
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        Disgorged contributions
 Contributor unknown If, however, the identity of the original contributor cannot be determined or is in question, the committee may disburse the funds to a governmental entity (federal, state or local), or to a qualified charitable organization described in 26 U.S.C. § 170(c). Prohibited in-kind contributions If the prohibited contribution was an in-kind contribution, the committee should disgorge an amount equal to the value of the contribution to the appropriate party. Insufficient Funds If the committee does not have sufficient funds to disgorge the contribution when the illegality is discovered, the committee must use the next funds it receives.
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        Refunds
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          Types of contributionsWho can and can't contribute to a candidateContribution limits From the FEC Record Nonfederal committees' involvement in federal campaigns
Foreign nationals
 Need help? Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Continue learning about this topic Contributions 2023-2024
 Nonfederal committee contributions to federal campaigns
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.5(a)Registration threshold for political committees 11 CFR 100.5(b)Registration threshold for separate segregated funds 11 CFR 100.5(c)Registration thresholds for local party committees 11 CFR 102.1(c)Registration by separate segregated funds 11 CFR 102.1(d)Registration by all other political committees 11 CFR 102.5(b)Organizations that are not political committees under the Act 11 CFR 103.3(b)Responsibility to screen contributions for legality 11 CFR 110.1(b)Contributions to candidates 11 CFR 110.9Violations of limitations 11 CFR 300.61Federal elections
 Advisory opinions AO 2007-26Donations by federal candidate's State office campaign committee AO 2003-29Transfer of funds from a nonfederal PAC to a federal PAC of an incorporated membership organization AO 1985-18Nonfederal PAC's conversion to federal PAC AO 1982-40Conversion of membership organization's state PAC to federal PAC AO 1982-38Accounting method for county party organizations' contributions


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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