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      FEC Record: Reporting
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      Post-General reporting reminder (2020)

FEC Record: ReportingPost-General reporting reminder (2020)November 5, 2020 The 30-Day Post-General report is due on December 3, 2020. The Post-General report covers activity from October 15 (or from the close of books of the last report filed) through November 23. The following committees must file this report: All registered PACs and party committees—even committees with little or no activity to disclose. Monthly filers must submit this report in lieu of the December Monthly report.Authorized committees of federal candidates running in the general election, including committees of unopposed candidates. Note that because the reporting period for the Post-General report spans two election cycles, candidate committees must use the Post-Election Detailed Summary Page instead of the normal Detailed Summary Page. Reporting help is always just a phone call away at 800-424-9530. Select option 4 for technical assistance with electronic filing, option 5 to speak with the analyst who reviews your committee’s reports or option 6 to speak with an Information Specialist. You can also submit a question for your analyst online. The Commission will host a reporting workshop and webinar for candidate committees on November 18 to help filers prepare their reports and wind down their campaigns. Notification of filing deadlines In addition to publishing this article and the online reporting tables, the Commission notifies committees of filing deadlines through reporting reminders called prior notices. Prior notices are distributed exclusively by email, so every committee should ensure that the email address on its Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) is current. Each committee may list up to two email addresses. To amend the Form 1, electronic filers must submit the Form 1 filled out in its entirety. Paper filers should include only the committee’s name, address, FEC identification number and the updated or changed portions of the form. Committees may also use our online webform to update their information. Treasurer’s responsibilities The Commission provides reminders of upcoming filing dates as a courtesy to help committees comply with the filing deadlines set forth in the Federal Election Campaign Act (“the Act”) and Commission regulations. Committee treasurers are responsible for filing committee reports on time. Not receiving a prior notice does not excuse committee treasurers for failing to comply with any filing deadline. Filing electronically Under the Commission’s mandatory electronic filing regulations, individuals and organizations (including political committees) that receive contributions or make expenditures, including independent expenditures, aggregating in excess of $50,000 in a calendar year—or have reason to expect to do so—must file all reports and statements electronically. Reports filed electronically must be received and validated by the Commission by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the filing date. Electronic filers who file on paper or submit an electronic report that does not pass the Commission’s validation program by that time on the filing deadline will be considered nonfilers and may be subject to enforcement actions, including administrative fines. The Commission’s electronic filing software, FECFile, is free and can be downloaded from the FEC's website. All reports filed must be filed in version 8.3.0.2 of the electronic filing software. Reports filed in previous versions of the software will not be accepted. Filers may also use commercial or privately developed software as long as the software meets the Commission’s format specifications. Committees using commercial software should contact their vendors to ensure their software meets the latest specifications. Timely Filing for Paper Filers Despite the resumption of limited mail operations at the FEC, the processing of campaign finance reports filed on paper may be delayed. As a result, paper filers may receive non-filer notices during this time. Nevertheless, filers should continue to file their reports on time. Registered and certified mail Reports sent by registered or certified mail are considered to be filed on the date of their postmark. Accordingly, quarterly reports sent by registered or certified mail must be postmarked on or before the filing deadline to be considered timely filed. A committee sending its reports by registered or certified mail should keep its mailing receipt with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark as proof of mailing, because the USPS does not keep complete records of items sent by certified or registered mail. Overnight mail Reports sent via overnight mail will be considered timely filed if the report is postmarked on or before the filing deadline. “Overnight mail” includes Priority Mail or Priority Express Mail having a delivery confirmation, or an overnight service with which the report is scheduled for next business day delivery and is recorded in the service’s online tracking system. Note that “Express Mail” as referred to in FEC regulations has been renamed “Priority Express Mail” by the USPS. Reports filed via overnight mail will be considered timely filed if the report is received by the delivery service on or before the mailing/filing deadline. A committee sending its reports by Priority Mail or Priority Express Mail, or by an overnight delivery service, should keep its proof of mailing or other means of transmittal of its reports. Other means of filing Reports sent by other means — including first class mail and courier — must be received by the FEC before close of business on the filing deadline. Forms may be downloaded from the FEC's website. Reports submitted by first-class mail will be considered filed when actually received by Commission staff, subject to delays resulting from the agency’s limited mail processing. The Commission is not accepting courier deliveries at this time. The FEC does not have statutory authority to extend filing deadlines, but it may choose not to pursue administrative fines against filers prevented from filing by reasonably unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. Authorized committees of candidates House and Senate candidates All campaigns that have a reporting obligation must file quarterly reports. Generally, an individual becomes a candidate for federal office, thus triggering registration and reporting obligations, when his or her campaign exceeds $5,000 in either contributions received or expenditures made. If the campaign has not exceeded the $5,000 threshold, it is not required to file reports. Presidential candidates All principal campaign committees of presidential candidates must file on either a monthly or a quarterly schedule in 2020. A committee whose contributions or expenditures exceed—or are expected to exceed—$100,000, must file monthly reports in 2020. Committees that have not exceeded the $100,000 threshold and do not expect to do so, file quarterly reports in 2020. Presidential committees able to change their reporting schedule and that wish to do so are required to notify the Commission in writing. Committees of Presidential candidates who are no longer participating in the election that have exceeded the $100,000 threshold must submit a filing frequency change request if they wish to file on a quarterly schedule; otherwise, they must file on a monthly schedule. Candidates with more than one authorized committee If a candidate has more than one authorized committee, the principal campaign committee files, with its own report (FEC Form 3 or 3P), a consolidated report of receipts and disbursements (FEC Form 3Z) showing its own activity as well as the activity of all other authorized committees of the candidate. State, district and local party committees State, district and local party committees that engage in reportable “federal election activity” must file on a monthly schedule in 2020. Committees that do not engage in reportable “federal election activity” may file on a quarterly schedule in 2020. National party committees National committees of political parties must file on a monthly schedule in 2020. Other political committees Political committees (PACs), including separate segregated funds, committees with non-contribution accounts (also sometimes called Hybrid PACs), independent expenditure-only committees (Super PACs) and other nonconnected committees that filed on a semi-annual basis in 2019 file on a quarterly basis in 2020. Monthly filers continue on the monthly schedule. Changing filing frequency PACs may change their filing schedule once a year, but must first notify the Commission in writing (or electronically, if electronic filers). A committee may change its filing frequency only once per calendar year. The committee will receive a letter from the Commission approving the frequency change. Additional information For more information on 2020 reporting dates: Call and request the reporting tables from the FEC at 800/424-9530 or 202/694-1100; orVisit the FEC’s Dates and deadlines web page to view the reporting tables online.Committees participating in general runoff elections should visit https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/dates-and-deadlines/2020-reporting-dates/congressional-pre-election-reporting-dates-2020/ to consult the appropriate prior notices for additional filing requirements. Citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.3(a)Definition of candidate 11 CFR 100.5(d) and (f)(1)Political committee 11 CFR 100.19Timely filed reports; electronically filed reports 11 CFR 100.29(a)Definition of electioneering communication 11 CFR 104.3(f)Contents of reports 11 CFR 104.4(b)(2) and (c), 104.5(g) and 109.10(c) and (d)Reports of independent expenditures made at any time up to and including the 20th day before an election and those made less than 20 days, but more than 24 hours before the day of an election 11 CFR 104.5(a)-(f), (h) and (i)Filing dates for candidates; filing dates for committees that are not authorized committees of candidates; date of filing; 48-hour notice of contributions; special election reports; retaining proof of mailing 11 CFR 104.18(a)(1)-(2) and (e)Mandatory electronic filing and validation program 11 CFR 104.22(a)(5) and (b)Disclosure of bundling by lobbyist/registrants and lobbyist/registrant PAC reporting requirement 11 CFR 110.17(e)(2) and (f)Lobbyist/registrant and lobbyist/registrant PAC contribution bundling disclosure threshold Resources 2020 reporting datesFEC electronic filing
 Author
          David GarrCommunications Specialist


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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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