Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§9042 Criminal penalties

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle H— - Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns › Chapter CHAPTER 96— - PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MATCHING PAYMENT ACCOUNT › § 9042

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Breaking the rules in section 9035 is a crime. A person who does so can be fined up to $25,000, jailed for up to 5 years, or both. If an officer or member of a political committee knowingly approves an illegal spending under section 9035, they face the same punishment. Anyone who gets money under section 9037 (or someone the money is transferred to) must use it only for qualified campaign costs or to repay or restore funds used for those costs. It is also illegal to lie to or hide records from the Commission, or to give or take kickbacks tied to those campaign costs. Violating any of these rules can lead to a fine up to $10,000, up to 5 years in jail, or both. Someone who accepts a kickback must also pay back 125 percent of what they got to the Secretary for the matching payment account.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §9042

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any person who violates the provisions of section 9035 shall be fined not more than $25,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. Any officer or member of any political committee who knowingly consents to any expenditure in violation of the provisions of section 9035 shall be fined not more than $25,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(b)(1)It is unlawful for any person who receives any payment under section 9037, or to whom any portion of any such payment is transferred, knowingly and willfully to use, or authorize the use of, such payment or such portion for any purpose other than—
(A)to defray qualified campaign expenses, or
(B)to repay loans the proceeds of which were used, or otherwise to restore funds (other than contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses which were received and expended) which were used, to defray qualified campaign expenses.
(2)Any person who violates the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(c)(1)It is unlawful for any person knowingly and willfully—
(A)to furnish any false, fictitious, or fraudulent evidence, books, or information to the Commission under this chapter, or to include in any evidence, books, or information so furnished any misrepresentation of a material fact, or to falsify or conceal any evidence, books, or information relevant to a certification by the Commission or an examination and audit by the Commission under this chapter, or
(B)to fail to furnish to the Commission any records, books, or information requested by it for purposes of this chapter.
(2)Any person who violates the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(d)(1)It is unlawful for any person knowingly and willfully to give or accept any kickback or any illegal payment in connection with any qualified campaign expense of a candidate, or his authorized committees, who receives payments under section 9037.
(2)Any person who violates the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(3)In addition to the penalty provided by paragraph (2), any person who accepts any kickback or illegal payment in connection with any qualified campaign expense of a candidate or his authorized committees shall pay to the Secretary for deposit in the matching payment account, an amount equal to 125 percent of the kickback or payment received.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1974, see section 410(c)(1) of Pub. L. 93–443, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1974 Amendment note under section 30101 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 9042

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73