PAC contribution limits

Who may make contributions

An individual or entity including corporations and partnerships may make contributions.

Contribution limits

Generally, a person or entity can contribute no more than $4,000 to one PAC or campaign committee account and a total of $10,000 to all PACs and campaign committee accounts during a four-year cycle.

Four-year cycles run:

2006 cycle: Jan. 1, 2003 through Dec. 31, 2006
2010 cycle: Jan. 1, 2007 through Dec. 31, 2010

For example:

Sidney Giver contributes $4,000 to the CPA CPA on April 3, 2004. Sidney Giver cannot make any more contributions to the CPA CPA until the next four-year cycle begins (in this case, Jan. 1, 2007). Sidney Giver next contributes $3,000 to the Committee to elect Bob Candidate and $3,000 to the Friends of Jane Incumbent on May 3, 2004. Since Sidney has now contributed $10,000 during the four-year cycle, he cannot make any more contributions until the next four-year cycle begins on 1/1/2007.

Form of payment

Contributions of $100 or less may be made by check, credit card or with cash.
Contributions of more than $100 must be made by check.

Contributions by business entities

Contributions by different corporations* are required to be considered as being made by one contributor if:

he corporations that made the contributions were owned by the same stockholders; or
one of the corporations wholly owns the other.

* Under current law, only corporations are required to attribute contributions made by identically owned corporations. This rule does not apply to other business entities such as partnerships.

Disclosure by business entities doing business with the state or employing a lobbyist

Like all other contributors, a business entity that contributes money to a campaign account does not have to report the contribution (the PAC or campaign committee account reports the contribution). The exception to this rule is for a business entity that does business with the state involving consideration of $100,000 or more, or, a business entity that employs a lobbyist. In either instance, the business entity is required to report each aggregate contribution of over $500 made by the business entity, its officers, board of directors and employees (if the employees made contributions at the direction of the business entity). Reports are due semi-annually on Feb. 5 and Aug. 5. Reporting forms may be obtained by calling the State Board of Elections or visiting the State Board Web site at http://www.elections.state.md.us/.

Send your check(s) to:

Maryland CPA Committee on Political Action (CPA CPA)
901 Dulaney Valley Road
Suite 710
Towson, Md. 21204-2683

All contributors are invited to the PAC annual meeting.

Contribution or general PAC questions?

Call the MACPA/CPA CPA at (410) 296-6250, ext. 324 or (800) 782-2036, ext. 324.
Call the Maryland State Board of Elections in Annapolis at (410) 269-2880 or (800) 222-VOTE, ext. 4.

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