Contribution limits for party committees
Political committees are prohibited from accepting contributions that violate the contribution limits.
Contribution limits for 2023-2024
| Recipient | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate committee | PAC† (SSF and nonconnected) | Party committee: state/district/local | Party committee: national | Additional national party committee accounts‡ | ||
| Donor | Individual | $3,300* per election | $5,000 per year | $10,000 per year (combined) | $41,300* per year | $123,900* per account, per year |
| Candidate committee | $2,000 per election | $5,000 per year | Unlimited transfers | Unlimited transfers | ||
| PAC: multicandidate | $5,000 per election | $5,000 per year | $5,000 per year (combined) | $15,000 per year | $45,000 per account, per year | |
| PAC: nonmulticandidate | $3,300* per election | $5,000 per year | $10,000 per year (combined) | $41,300* per year | $123,900* per account, per year | |
| Party committee: state/district/local | $5,000 per election (combined) | $5,000 per year (combined) | Unlimited transfers | Unlimited transfers | ||
| Party committee: national | $5,000 per election** | $5,000 per year | Unlimited transfers | Unlimited transfers | ||
*Indexed for inflation in odd-numbered years.
†“PAC” here refers to a committee that makes contributions to other federal political committees. Independent-expenditure-only political committees (sometimes called “Super PACs”) may accept unlimited contributions, including from corporations and labor organizations.
‡The limits in this column apply to a national party committee’s accounts for: (i) the presidential nominating convention; (ii) election recounts and contests and other legal proceedings; and (iii) national party headquarters buildings. A party’s national committee, Senate campaign committee and House campaign committee are each considered separate national party committees with separate limits. Only a national party committee, not the parties’ national congressional campaign committees, may have an account for the presidential nominating convention.
**Additionally, a national party committee and its Senatorial campaign committee may contribute up to $57,800 combined per campaign to each Senate candidate.
Candidate limit may apply
A contribution received by a party committee may count against the contributor’s contribution limit for a particular candidate if:
- The contributor knows that a substantial portion of his or her contribution will be given to or spent on behalf of a particular candidate; or
- The contributor retains control over the funds after making the contribution (for example, the contributor earmarks the contribution for a particular candidate).
Contributions from affiliated PACs
Political action committees (PACs) that are affiliated with one another share the same set of contribution limits.
Contributions from spouses
Spouses each have separate contribution limits, even if only one spouse has an income. A couple may make a joint contribution (part of which would be attributed to each).
Joint contributions
A joint contribution is a contribution that is made by more than one person using a single check or other written instrument. A joint contribution represents the personal funds of each donor, so each donor must sign either the check or an accompanying statement.
For the purposes of the contribution limits, a joint contribution is attributed equally to each donor, unless an accompanying statement indicates that the funds should be divided differently.
Partnership contributions
A contribution from a partnership counts against the partnership’s limit and also counts proportionally against the limits of each participating partner.
$100 limit on cash contributions
Contributions of currency from any one source are limited to $100. A cash contribution in excess of that limit must be returned to the contributor.
$50 limit on anonymous contributions
An anonymous contribution is limited to $50. Any amount in excess of $50 must be promptly disposed of, and may be used for any lawful purpose unrelated to any federal election, candidate or campaign.
