The $500 is a filing fee that goes to the IRS.

Actually there are (or used to be) two levels: $150 and $500, depending on your org's projected income. But pretty much all of us fit in the $500 category, so that's what we tend to state.

The application process is doable with some time and effort. Many of us on the Forum have successfully completed it ourselves without hiring anyone.

Finding out from the IRS if you've already filed is "painless and easy". Unfortunately, I don't believe any us would use those terms to describe the application process. But it is doable. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thank you so much that was painless and easy. I guess were not. So we shall see how we are going to proceed.
Is the filing fee $500.00 or paying someone to do it the $500.00?


Cindy S

You can find out here in about a minute:

IRS Search

Contact IRS at
(p)877-829-5500
(f)513 263-3759

All you have to tell them is your Name and Group name, and say yes , if they ask are you a designated representative of your PTA/ PTO,
it takes a few weeks to get the letter

We have a form from the IRS designating us as a 501(c)3 organization. Public schools are recognized as non-profit, but if your group is operating as a separate entity, then you should have your own designation.

Do you have officers from previous years that might know? Otherwise, I suppose you could call the IRS and find out.

To be a 501(c)3 organization means you are recognized by the IRS as a non-profit organization. Your group would have had to file paperwork with the IRS and provided them with by-laws, a constitution or articles of incorporation.

Businesses will want proof of this status when they make donations, because according to IRS rules they can't take it as a charitable deduction if the donation isn't made to a recognized charitable organization. That could limit your getting donations and other funding, plus it puts your group in a very different situation in relation to paying taxes on the funds you raise.

Of course, you could collect the items and funds under the school's tax exempt status as long as they are fine with that. Better check it out though. We had to file for our 501(c)3 status a few years ago, because a new business manager came into the school district and she told us that we could not operate under the school's umbrella. It took a little work and $500 but we're all set now.

[ 11-09-2005, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: LUVMYKIDS ]

How would I find out if we are this kind of orgainzation? I am a new pres. Is this something the school does or the PTO does? And what does it exactly mean. I'm doing requests for our PTO chinese auction and businesses have asked.

Cindy