Notifying the FEC when someone dies
Executor is responsible for notifying the FEC
OverviewWhen someone dies
FEC Information Division (campaign finance questions, forms, training)
Phone202-694-1100
Toll-Free1-800-424-9530
Emailinfo@fec.gov
Mailing Address
Federal Election Commission, 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Reports Analysis Division (assigned analyst for committee filings)
Phone202-694-1130
Toll-Free1-800-424-9530
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Electronic Filing Office (filing technical support and passwords)
Phone202-694-1307
Toll-Free1-800-424-9530
Timeline
Amended Form 1 for treasurer change: 10 days after the change. Termination report: can be filed any time the committee meets the criteria; the FEC then reviews and issues a termination approval letter. Wind-down costs may be incurred for up to six months under 11 CFR 113.2(a)(2). Records must be retained three years from the filing date of the final report.
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HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Verified Jul 2026
When someone dies, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) must be notified. The executor is responsible for notifying the FEC.
Notification deadline: Form 1 amendment for treasurer change: within 10 days of the change (11 CFR 102.2). Termination report: any time the committee meets the criteria (no longer receives contributions or makes expenditures). Routine reports continue until the FEC issues a termination approval letter..
Steps to take
Steps for notifying the FEC and applying for survivor benefits:
1
If the treasurer died, name a successor treasurer immediately to avoid the statutory activity ban:
- •52 U.S.C. § 30102(a) and 11 CFR 102.7 bar the committee from accepting contributions or making expenditures while the treasurer office is vacant
- •If the committee designated an assistant treasurer on its Statement of Organization, that person assumes the role on a temporary or permanent basis (11 CFR 102.7)
- •File an amended FEC Form 1 (Statement of Organization) within 10 days of the change (11 CFR 102.2) — the amendment need only include the committee name and the changed information
2
If the candidate died, decide whether the committee will continue (to pay debts, refund contributions) or terminate:
- •The authorized committee continues to exist and must keep filing routine Form 3 (House/Senate) or Form 3P (Presidential) reports until it formally terminates
- •Wind-down costs are permissible disbursements under 11 CFR 113.2(a) and may be reimbursed for up to six months from campaign funds
- •Personal use of remaining campaign funds is prohibited (11 CFR 113.1(g)) — the ban survives the candidate
3
Dispose of remaining campaign funds using one or more permitted methods (11 CFR 113.2):
- •Refund contributions to donors on a pro-rata or other basis
- •Donate to charitable organizations described in 26 U.S.C. § 170(c)
- •Make unlimited transfers to any national, state, or local political party committee (11 CFR 113.2(c))
- •Donate to state or local candidates as permitted by state law (11 CFR 113.2(d))
- •Use for any other lawful purpose, except personal use of the candidate or the candidate's family (11 CFR 113.2(e))
4
Settle outstanding debts before filing the termination report:
- •A terminating committee that cannot pay debts in full may file FEC Form 8 (Debt Settlement Plan) under 11 CFR 116.2 and 11 CFR 116.7
- •The Commission reviews the plan and either approves the settlement or returns it for revision
- •Committees under FEC enforcement, audit, or litigation cannot terminate until the matter is resolved
5
File the termination report (TER) when the committee no longer receives or makes contributions or expenditures:
- •House/Senate authorized committees: file Form 3 with the "Termination Report (TER)" box checked
- •PACs and party committees: file Form 3X with the TER box checked
- •Presidential committees: file Form 3P with the TER box checked
- •A termination report may be combined with a regularly scheduled report and may be filed at any time the criteria are met
- •Use FEC Form 99 (Miscellaneous Report) to submit any explanatory letter to the Commission
6
Wait for the FEC termination approval letter. Reporting obligations continue until the Commission sends the letter — filing the TER alone does not close the committee.
7
Retain all committee records for three years from the filing date of the final report (11 CFR 104.14). The successor treasurer or estate representative is responsible for record retention.
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate (for the estate's internal records and for any bank/transfer requests; the FEC itself does not require it)
- FEC Form 1 (Statement of Organization) — amended within 10 days to name the new treasurer
- FEC Form 3, Form 3X, or Form 3P — final report with the Termination Report (TER) box checked
- FEC Form 8 (Debt Settlement Plan) — if the committee cannot pay outstanding debts in full
- FEC Form 99 (Miscellaneous Report) — to submit explanatory correspondence to the Commission
- Documentation of fund disposition (refund checks, charitable donation receipts, party-committee transfer records)
Timeline
Amended Form 1 for treasurer change: 10 days after the change. Termination report: can be filed any time the committee meets the criteria; the FEC then reviews and issues a termination approval letter. Wind-down costs may be incurred for up to six months under 11 CFR 113.2(a)(2). Records must be retained three years from the filing date of the final report.
Survivor benefits
No Survivor Benefits
The FEC does not pay survivor benefits. It is a regulatory agency that oversees campaign finance disclosure. The "benefit" to survivors of a deceased candidate or treasurer is procedural: closing out the committee properly so the estate is not exposed to continuing reporting liability and so remaining campaign funds are disposed of in a permitted way.
Eligibility: Not applicable
How to apply: Not applicable
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
The committee must immediately name a successor treasurer. Under 52 U.S.C. § 30102(a) and 11 CFR 102.7, the committee may not accept contributions or make expenditures while the office of treasurer is vacant. If the committee previously designated an assistant treasurer on its Statement of Organization, that person assumes the role automatically. An amended FEC Form 1 must be filed within 10 days of the change (11 CFR 102.2).
The authorized committee does not automatically dissolve. It continues to exist and must keep filing routine reports (Form 3 for House/Senate, Form 3P for Presidential) until it formally terminates. The treasurer (or a successor) must wind down operations — paying or settling debts, refunding or donating remaining funds — and then file a termination report. The committee's reporting obligation ends only when the FEC issues a termination approval letter.
Under 11 CFR 113.2, remaining campaign funds may be refunded to contributors, donated to charitable organizations described in 26 U.S.C. § 170(c), transferred without limit to any national, state, or local political party committee, donated to state or local candidates as permitted by state law, or used for any other lawful purpose. Personal use by the candidate or the candidate's family is prohibited (11 CFR 113.1(g)) — the ban survives the candidate's death.
Three years from the filing date of the report to which the records relate (11 CFR 104.14). The successor treasurer or the estate representative is responsible for retaining records after the candidate or original treasurer dies.
Call the FEC Information Division at 1-800-424-9530 (option 6) for general guidance, or contact the committee's assigned analyst in the Reports Analysis Division (1-800-424-9530, option 5) for filing-specific questions. Electronic filing technical support is at 1-800-424-9530 (option 4) or eFiletechsupport@fec.gov.
After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 1 benefit through the FEC. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the FEC. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
FEC Information Division (campaign finance questions, forms, training)
Phone202-694-1100
Toll-Free1-800-424-9530
Emailinfo@fec.gov
Mailing Address
Federal Election Commission, 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Reports Analysis Division (assigned analyst for committee filings)
Phone202-694-1130
Toll-Free1-800-424-9530
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Electronic Filing Office (filing technical support and passwords)
Phone202-694-1307
Toll-Free1-800-424-9530
Timeline
Amended Form 1 for treasurer change: 10 days after the change. Termination report: can be filed any time the committee meets the criteria; the FEC then reviews and issues a termination approval letter. Wind-down costs may be incurred for up to six months under 11 CFR 113.2(a)(2). Records must be retained three years from the filing date of the final report.
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Verified Jul 2026