Tell me something I don't know! The "current leader" being one of the few involved in the PTO for the last decade has a major case of burn out. They've basically said that as the new leader next year, I can handle things as I see fit and if I don't like it, then change it. Horrible I know. So, that leaves me with what? I need to get an EIN - Do I need to incorporate to get that? And I know nothing about insurance.
No, we are not a "parent/teacher committee." They are operating as a PTO, just not following protocol. No executive board, no "president," "VP," "Secretary," or "Treasurer." In their defense, they are operating with very little (NO) parent or teacher involvement and the "PTO" consists of the principal and 5 parents, including me - a newbie. 3 of the 5 parents are moving on to the middle school this year. So that just leaves me and one other parent who isn't quite as into this as I am. I'm basically getting a mess dumped in my lap, but I am totally committed to rebuilding this PTO from the ground up because our kids and our school need what we can provide. So any and all advice about what I need to do is welcome - desperately needed actually. Another poster on a different forum of PTO Today has been e-mailing me personally to offer advice. She's been great! But I'll take any and all input. New and different perspectives are definitely needed! You can e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to give me much needed advice. Its quite an undertaking to say the least.
No, I'm not going to laugh at the treasurer's SSN; you *really* need to fix this ASAP.
I think somewhere on this site they talk about "parent/teacher committees" which really do operate as a committee of the school, fully under its jurisdiction and thus legitimately using its EIN. This does mean it's the school's money, and they could decide to use it as they see fit. (This may motivate the current leader to help.) On the other hand, I expect all events, then, are "school" events, and therefore the school's insurance policy would apply.
You're going to laugh at this, but I just found out Monday night that the bank account for the PTO is under the Treasurer's SSN! So, no we do not have an EIN for the "PTO," but they do keep telling me its all under the school, so I suppose we use the school's EIN. When I mentioned to the current leader about having to e-file, as you told me, she just shrugged and said I could handle it. HELP! What have I gotten myself into?
Okay - question. Do you have to file even if the PTO isn't a 501(c)(3)? Or is this required of any small tax exempt organization? I believe we fall under the school.
