Tax I.D. Numbers for Clubs and Organizations

Many clubs are asked for their "tax I.D. number" when establishing club bank accounts, receiving funds from businesses, or accepting donations. Sometimes, people assume the University of California tax I.D. can be used, but THIS IS NOT TRUE. In most cases, you are a club "at" UCI; not a UCI club.

Some groups may be able to use the tax I.D. of their national organizations and should make inquires from their national headquarters. In some cases, presidents or treasurers have used their personal tax I.D. numbers (Social Security Numbers) but this is not recommended and could drastically affect an individual's tax status and personal finances. Groups should consult tax advisors for professional advice.

Here are the steps to obtain a federal tax I.D. number for your organization (as of 6/1/2003):

1. Obtain and complete an Application for Employer Indentification Number form (Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Form SS-4). Copies should be available from the IRS website and the Office of the Dean of Students information/literature racks.
2. After completing the SS-4 as a worksheet, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and press "3" at the prompt. Press "1" for English and press "1" for an EIN (Employer Identification Number).
3. Have your worksheet ready to answer questions when asked.