Subpart C prescribes standards and procedures under which the Commission will collect and dispose of certain debts owed to the United States, as described in 11 CFR 111.51. The regulations in this subpart implement the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. 3701, 3711, and 3716-3720A, as amended; and the Federal Claims Collection Standards, 31 CFR parts 900-904. The activities covered include: The collection of claims of any amount; compromising claims; suspending or terminating the collection of claims; and referring debts to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for collection action.

(a) The procedures of this subpart C of part 111 apply to claims for payment or debt arising from, or ancillary to, any action undertaken by or on behalf of the Commission in furtherance of efforts to ensure compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq., as amended, and to administer the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq., or the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act, 26 U.S.C. 9031 et seq., and Commission regulations, including:

(1) Negotiated civil penalties in enforcement matters and alternative dispute resolution matters;

(2) Civil money penalties assessed under the administrative fines program;

(3) Claims reduced to judgment in the courts and that are no longer in litigation;

(4) Repayments of public funds under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, 26 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.; or

(5) Repayment of public funds under the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act, 26 U.S.C. 9031 et seq.

(b) The procedures covered by this subpart do not apply to any of the following debts:

(1) Debts that result from administrative activities of the Commission that are governed by 11 CFR part 8.

(2) Debts involving criminal actions of fraud, the presentation of a false claim, or misrepresentation on the part of the debtor or any other person having an interest in the claim.

(3) Debts based in whole or in part on conduct in violation of the antitrust laws.

(4) Debts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(5) Debts between the Commission and another Federal agency. The Commission will attempt to resolve interagency claims by negotiation in accordance with Executive Order 12146, 3 CFR pp. 409-12 (1980 Comp.).

(6) Debts that have become subject to salary offset under 5 U.S.C. 5514.

(a) The Commission shall act to collect all claims or debts. These collection activities will be undertaken promptly and follow up action will be taken as appropriate in accordance with 31 CFR 901.1.

(b) The Commission may take any and all appropriate collection actions authorized and required by the Debt Collection Act of 1982, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. 3701 et seq. The U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations at 31 CFR 285.2, 285.4, 285.7, and 285.11, and the Federal Claims Collection Standards issued jointly by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Treasury at 31 CFR parts 900-904, also apply. The Commission has adopted these regulations by cross-reference.

(c) The Commission will refer to the Dept. of Treasury all debt that has been delinquent for more than 180 days, and may refer to the Dept. of Treasury any debt that has been delinquent for 180 days or less. On behalf of the Commission, the U.S. Department of the Treasury will attempt to collect the debt, in accordance with the statutory and regulatory requirements and authorities applicable to the debt and action. This may include referral to another debt collection center, or a private collection contractor. See 31 CFR 285.12 (Transfer of debts to Treasury for collection). This requirement does not apply to any debt that:

(1) Is in litigation or foreclosure;

(2) Will be disposed of under an approved asset sale program;

(3) Has been referred to a private collection contractor for a period of time acceptable to the U.S. Department of the Treasury; or

(4) Will be collected under internal offset procedures within three years after the debt first became delinquent.

(d) The U.S. Department of the Treasury is authorized to charge a fee for services rendered regarding referred or transferred debts. The Commission will add the fee to the debt as an administrative cost, in accordance with 11 CFR 111.55.

Nothing in this subpart C precludes the Commission from filing suit in the appropriate court to enforce compliance with a conciliation agreement under 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(5)(D), seek a civil money penalty under 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(6), petition the court for a contempt order under 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(11), or otherwise exercise its authority to enforce or administer the statutes specified in 11 CFR 111.51(a).

When the Commission learns that a bankruptcy petition has been filed by a debtor, before proceeding with further collection action, the Commission will take any necessary action in accordance with the provision of 31 CFR 901.2(h).

(a) The Commission shall assess interest, penalties, and administrative costs on debts owed to the United States Government, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3717. Interest, penalties, and administrative costs will be assessed in accordance with 31 CFR 901.9.

(b) The Commission shall waive collection of interest and administrative costs on a debt or any portion of the debt that is paid within thirty days after the date on which the interest begins to accrue.

(c) The Commission may waive collection of interest, penalties, and administrative costs if it:

(1) Determines that collection is against equity and good conscience or not in the best interest of the United States, including when an administrative offset or installment agreement is in effect; or

(2) Determines that waiver is appropriate under the criteria for compromise of debts set forth at 31 CFR 902.2(a).

(d) The Commission is authorized to impose interest and related charges on debts not subject to 31 U.S.C. 3717, in accordance with common law.