A PTO with gross receipts less than $5,000 can function as a tax exemt organization without filing to officially recognized. The Instructions for Form 1023 (application for Exemption) also say you have 27 months after you were legally formed to file. I would get the EIN for banking purposes and then see how the organization develops.
I just ordered the hard copy of form 1023 so I'll check the website while I'm waiting. We have a new board of officers who are hesitant to spend any extra money right now - I aksed about purchasing the start-up guide. However, I think I'll order it and consider it a donation since it seems like it could be helpful.
Try the irs's website, www.irs.gov. I think it's also in the instructions for the 1023 which you can read online if you don't have the hardcopy. And I'm virtually certain it's in the PTOToday startup guide if you have that binder (free to PTOToday Plus members, $40 for all others - can order from this site).
Thanks everyone for all of your help - you've put my mind at ease. I'm going to open our new bank account today - our old account is in someone's SS# and we want to use a different bank.
We're hoping to file the state form next week and begin work on the 1023 while we're waiting for the reply.
Critter - do you have any more info on the "conflict of interest" language to use? We do have the dissolution clause.
The EIN is just your federal id number. It doesn't change after you incorporate, though your state might assign some other identification number for their own record-keeping when you incorporate. If you have your EIN, you've completed the first step for the feds.
