View all text of Part 104 [§ 104.1 - § 104.22]

§ 104.17 - Reporting of allocable expenses by party committees.

(a) Expenses allocated among candidates. A national party committee making an expenditure on behalf of more than one clearly identified candidate for Federal office must report the allocation between or among the named candidates. A national party committee making expenditures and disbursements on behalf of one or more clearly identified Federal candidates and on behalf of one or more clearly identified non-Federal candidates must report the allocation among all named candidates. These payments shall be allocated among candidates pursuant to 11 CFR part 106, but only Federal funds may be used for such payments. A State, district, or local party committee making expenditures and disbursements for Federal election activity as defined at 11 CFR 100.24 on behalf of one or more clearly identified Federal and one or more clearly identified non-Federal candidates must make the payments from its Federal account and must report the allocation among all named candidates. A State, district, or local party committee making expenditures and disbursements on behalf of one or more clearly identified Federal and one or more clearly identified non-Federal candidates where the activity is not a Federal election activity may allocate the payments between its Federal and non-Federal account and must report the allocation among all named candidates. For allocated expenditures, the committee must report the amount of each in-kind contribution, independent expenditure, or coordinated expenditure attributed to each candidate. If a payment also includes amounts attributable to one or more non-Federal candidates, and is made by a State, district, or local party committee with separate Federal and non-Federal accounts, and is not for a Federal election activity, then the payment shall be made according to the procedures set forth in 11 CFR 106.7(f), but shall be reported pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section, as follows:

(1) Reporting of allocation of expenses attributable to specific Federal and non-Federal candidates. In each report disclosing a payment that includes both expenditures on behalf of one or more Federal candidates and disbursements on behalf of one or more non-Federal candidates, the committee must assign a unique identifying title or code to each program or activity conducted on behalf of such candidates, state the allocation ratio calculated for the program or activity, and explain the manner in which the ratio applied to each candidate was derived. The committee must also summarize the total amounts attributed to each candidate, to date, for each program or activity.

(2) Reporting of transfers between accounts for the purpose of paying expenses attributable to specific Federal and non-Federal candidates. A State, district, or local party committee that pays allocable expenses in accordance with 11 CFR 106.7(f) shall report each transfer of funds from its non-Federal account to its Federal account or to its separate allocation account for the purpose of paying such expenses. In the report covering the period in which each transfer occurred, the State, district, or local party committee shall explain in a memo entry the allocable expenses to which the transfer relates and the date on which the transfer was made. If the transfer includes funds for the allocable costs of more than one program or activity, the State, district, or local party committee must itemize the transfer, showing the amounts designated for each program or activity conducted on behalf of one or more clearly identified Federal candidates and one or more clearly identified non-Federal candidates.

(3) Reporting of allocated disbursements attributable to specific Federal and non-Federal candidates. A State, district, or local committee that pays allocable expenses in accordance with 11 CFR 106.7(f) shall also report each disbursement from its Federal account or its separate allocation account in payment for a program or activity conducted on behalf of one or more clearly identified Federal candidates and one or more clearly identified non-Federal candidates. In the report covering the period in which the disbursement occurred, the State, district, or local party committee shall state the full name and address of each person to whom the disbursement was made, and the date, amount, and purpose of each such disbursement. If the disbursement includes payment for the allocable costs of more than one program or activity, the committee shall itemize the disbursement, showing the amounts designated for payment of each program or activity conducted on behalf of one or more clearly identified Federal candidates and one or more clearly identified non-Federal candidates. The State, district, or local party committee must also report the amount of each in-kind contribution, independent expenditure, or coordinated expenditure attributed to each Federal candidate, and the total amount attributed to the non-Federal candidate(s). In addition, the State, district, or local party committee must report the total amount expended by the committee that year, to date, for each joint program or activity.

(4) Recordkeeping. The treasurer of a State, district, or local party committee must retain all records supporting the committee's allocations on behalf of specific Federal and non-Federal candidates, in accordance with 11 CFR 104.14.

(b) Allocation of activities that are not Federal election activities. A State, district, or local committee of a political party that has established separate Federal and non-Federal accounts, including related allocation accounts, under 11 CFR 102.5 must report all payments that are allocable between these accounts pursuant to the allocation rules in 11 CFR 106.7. Disbursements for activities that are allocable between Federal and Levin accounts, including related allocation accounts, must be reported pursuant to 11 CFR 300.36.

(1) Reporting of allocations of expenses for activities that are not Federal election activities. (i) In the first report in a calendar year disclosing a disbursement allocable pursuant to 11 CFR 106.7, a State, district, or local committee shall state and explain the allocation percentages to be applied to each category of allocable activity (e.g., 36% Federal/64% non-Federal in Presidential and Senate election years) pursuant to 11 CFR 106.7(d).

(ii) In each subsequent report in the calendar year itemizing an allocated disbursement, the State, district, or local party committee shall state the category of activity for which each allocated disbursement was made, and shall summarize the total amounts expended from Federal and non-Federal accounts, or from allocation accounts, that year to date for each such category.

(iii) In each report disclosing disbursements for allocable activities as described in 11 CFR 106.7, the State, district, or local party committee shall assign a unique identifying title or code to each such program or activity, and shall state the applicable Federal/non-Federal percentage for any direct costs of fundraising. Unique identifying titles or codes are not required for salaries and wages pursuant to 11 CFR 106.7(c)(1), or for other administrative costs allocated pursuant to 11 CFR 106.7(c)(2).

(2) Reporting of transfers between the accounts of State, district, and local party committees and into allocation accounts for allocable expenses. A State, district, or local committee of a political party that pays allocable expenses in accordance with 11 CFR 106.7 shall report each transfer of funds from its non-Federal account to its Federal account, or each transfer from its Federal account and its non-Federal account into an allocation account, for the purpose of payment of such expenses. In the report covering the period in which each transfer occurred, the State, district, or local party committee must explain in a memo entry the allocable expenses to which the transfer relates and the date on which the transfer was made. If the transfer includes funds for the allocable costs of more than one activity, the State, district, or local party committee must itemize the transfer, showing the amounts designated for each category of expense as described in 11 CFR 106.7.

(3) Reporting of allocated disbursements for certain allocable activity that is not Federal election activity. (i) A State, district, or local committee of a political party that pays allocable expenses in accordance with 11 CFR 106.7 shall report each disbursement from its Federal account for allocable expenses, or each payment from an allocation account for such activity. In the report covering the period in which the disbursement occurred, the State, district, or local committee shall state the full name and address of each individual or vendor to which the disbursement was made, the date, amount, and purpose of each such disbursement, and the amounts allocated to Federal and non-Federal portions of the allocable activity. If the disbursement includes payment for the allocable costs of more than one activity, the State, district, or local party committee must itemize the disbursement, showing the amounts designated for payments of particular categories of activity as described in 11 CFR 106.7. The State, district, or local party committee must also report the total amount paid that calendar year to date for each category of allocable activity.

(ii) A State, district, or local committee of a political party that pays allocable expenses from a Federal account and a Levin account in accordance with 11 CFR 300.33 shall report disbursements from those accounts according to the requirements of 11 CFR 300.36.

(4) Recordkeeping. The treasurer of a State, district, or local party committee must retain all records supporting the committee's allocations of expenditures and disbursements for the costs and activities cited at paragraph (b) of this section, in accordance with 11 CFR 104.14.

[67 FR 49114, July 29, 2002, as amended at 89 FR 216, Jan. 2, 2024]