The IRS says they monitor/record phone conversations to evaluate their employees, but do not keep a record of tax payer names or tax ID's. (I choose to believe them and have not gotten in trouble yet.)
Finding out the tax ID used on the bank account provides one piece of the puzzle, but does not get you very far if there is no record of where it came from. When I was in this situation, calls to the district and IRS solved the mystery.
I would check your bank records for a federal tax id #. I would do a lot of homework and research BEFORE talking to the IRS. They don't take kindly to organizations posing for years as a non profit. They also don't take "oops" for an excuse anymore either.
I would first check with the business office of your school district. The ID # you have been using could be either their state sales tax ID # or their federal tax ID. Then I would call the IRS tax exempt tele # 1-877-829-5500. They can check the number and check under your PTO name to see if there is any record of your organization. (They can also let you know if the number you are using falls in the right series for a tax exemt organization.) If you are an approved 501(C)3 you should be be listed in IRS Publication #78, which can be searched on line. You should also have your IRS determination letter in your files. Have fun!
I have been trying to figure this out for awhile today & hope one of you experienced people can help! Here is the dilemma I have. We have been using a tax ID number which I think is our State Tax ID Number (we are in Indiana)but when I called our State Department of Revenue today they said that the number wasn't good and that our PTO did not have a number assigned to them. We also can not find a Federal Tax ID number that has been assigned to us. It is my understanding that the State ID number is needed to give to retailers so that we don't have to pay sales tax and the Federal ID number is to give to people who donate to our PTO for tax purposes. I'm at a loss as to what to do to find either number. Is it possible that we don't have either number? I was told that we were a 501(c)3 by our prior treasurer but have yet to see the paperwork to back that up. I'm sure that she was just told that by the person before her and it was passed down like that. Any suggestions to get this straightened out are thoroughly appreciated!
Karen This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
