Political parties; campaign committees for candidates for federal, state or local office; and political action committees are all political organizations subject to tax under IRC section 527. Section 527 organizations are generally required to file one or more of the following: An initial notice Periodic reports on contributions and expenditures Annual income tax returns and Annual information returns A political organization must have its own employer identification number (EIN), even if it does not have any employees. To get an EIN, an organization must file Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number PDF. For more information about obtaining an EIN (including how to apply online), see Employer ID Numbers (EIN). Additionally, many political organizations must electronically file their periodic reports. In order to electronically file these reports, an organization needs the username and password issued to it after filing its initial notice. If you have forgotten or misplaced this username and password, please contact TE/GE Customer Account Services to request a replacement. Additional information News Release 2002-123 Fact Sheet 2002-13 PDF Revenue Ruling 2003-49 PDF Revenue Procedure 2007-27 (safe harbor allowing certain tax-exempt political organizations to establish that failure to file Form 8872 was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and, therefore, eligible for relief from penalties) State Filing Requirements
