Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across all legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
      FEC Record: Regulations
- ›
      Commission approves revised regulations providing for candidate salaries (REG 2021-01)

FEC Record: RegulationsCommission approves revised regulations providing for candidate salaries (REG 2021-01)January 4, 2024 On December 14, 2023, the Commission approved a final rule and explanation and justification revising its regulations at 11 CFR part 113 concerning the use of campaign funds by a candidate’s principal campaign committee to pay compensation to the candidate. These revisions change: The criteria for determining a candidate’s eligibility to receive compensation from campaign funds;The maximum amount of compensation a candidate may receive from campaign funds; andThe period during which a candidate may receive compensation. The new regulations reorganize the Commission’s current regulations at 11 CFR 113.1(g)(1) through (8) addressing personal use and add new paragraph (g)(6) to address candidate compensation. Current paragraphs (g)(6) through (8) are now designated (g)(7) through (9). New paragraph (g)(6) has seven subparagraphs: New subparagraph (g)(6)(i) provides that no incumbent federal officeholder may receive compensation from campaign funds.New subparagraph (g)(6)(ii) states that the use of campaign funds to pay compensation to a candidate is not personal use provided that the compensation does not exceed the lesser of either 50 percent of the minimum salary paid to a Member of the United States House of Representatives, or the average annual income that the candidate earned during the most recent five calendar years in which the candidate earned income prior to candidacy. Compensation will be calculated at a daily rate, rounded to the nearest dollar.New subparagraph (g)(6)(iii) defines “compensation” as direct payments to the candidate that are not otherwise permitted by law, such as the repayment of candidate loans and expenses.New subparagraph (g)(6)(iv) states that the campaign committee must reduce the maximum amount of compensation permissible under the new regulations by the amount of any earned income the candidate receives after filing a Statement of Candidacy.New subparagraph (g)(6)(v) defines the period of eligibility for the accrual of compensation as beginning on the date on which the candidate files a Statement of Candidacy and ending up to 20 days following the date on which the candidate wins a general election, special election, runoff election, or when the candidate otherwise ceases to be a candidate, such as by losing an election or withdrawing from the race.New subparagraph (g)(6)(vi) states that a principal campaign committee seeking to settle debts for less than the full value may not pay compensation to the candidate or settle or satisfy a debt to a candidate for compensation.New subparagraph (g)(6)(vii) states that a candidate must provide evidence of earned income from relevant years upon request from the Commission, and that any such evidence must be retained for three years after the report disclosing the disbursement is filed. Before promulgating rules or regulations, the Commission must transmit them to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate for a thirty-day legislative review period. The effective date of this final rule will be March 1, 2024. Resources Federal Register noticeCommission consideration of final rule
 Author
          Christopher BergCommunications Specialist


Read next: Reports due in 2024
 Related: Explore legal resources »


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.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          No FEAR Act
          Strategy, budget and performance
 Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
          FOIA
 OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms