How do I apply for tax treaty coverage?
Please reference the Manage Foreign National Tax Status guidelines on this website.
Who should I contact when a piece of equipment in my office is replaced under warranty or returned in a trade-in for newer equipment?
Contact Jo-Anne Chute with the details. She will arrange to have a new tag number placed on the equipment or make sure the traded-in equipment is removed from the property records.
I’m told surplus equipment can be made available. I want to provide furniture for a student office. How do I find out about anything available?
Surplus furniture is available for transfer at WW15 or you may contact Erin George with specific requests.
How do I report a piece of equipment that has been stolen or damaged?
Notify Richard Janus in Property. He can help identify the equipment and provide information regarding reporting the loss to campus police and the MIT Insurance Office.
Does MIT donate equipment to charity?
After internal needs are met, MIT equipment may become available for donation to non-profits. Visit our WW15 Equipment Exchange.
I recently received some new equipment. It has not been tagged. Do I have to notify the Property Office to come and tag it?
No. Normally the Property Office will come and tag all newly received purchased property that requires tagging within 30 days of the last invoice payment. If the equipment needs to be tagged sooner than that for reasons of risk or availability, contact Jo-Anne Chute, Property Manager, to make arrangements. She should also be contacted if, after 30 days, the equipment has not been tagged or if you have received equipment that was acquired by MIT but not purchased.
I know that G/L 421818 is capital equipment and not subject to overhead. Can you explain when upgrades to equipment also may carry this G/L account?
Certain conditions that need to be met regarding upgrades and components. Briefly summarized:
- The minimum cost for the upgrade must be at least $2,000;
- The purchase requisition must carry the property number of the existing equipment to be upgraded;
- The existing unit must be capital equipment (value greater than or equal to $5,000).
If these conditions are met, then the upgrade should be assigned 421818 capital equipment.
See the Coding Of Equipment Purchases policy for more information.
I’m sure my requisition is equipment, but I’m still confused about which general ledger account to assign to an item. What is the rule?
For the full rule set for assigning G/Ls, see the Coding Of Equipment Purchases policy.
Briefly stated:
- If the net cost of the item is less than $1,000, assign 420226 Materials and Services or 421900 Computer Supplies and Peripherals;
- If the net cost of the item is between $1,000 and $4,999, assign 421827 Minor Equipment;
- If the net cost is $5,000 or greater, assign 421818 Capital Equipment.
I understand that equipment purchases require certain general ledger account assignments. How do I know if my requisition is considered to be equipment?
Any item that will last more than a year, is operationally complete and can be identified as stand-alone is considered equipment. Purchases from the following product categories are normally considered equipment: furniture, computer, laboratory, scientific and test equipment, office and service equipment. The difference between Capital and Minor equipment is determined by cost. Computer equipment at MIT is controlled by property record beginning at a cost of $1000 or greater. All Capital equipment is controlled by a property record.
There's a problem with the funding entries on the cost sharing child of my research project. Who do I contact?
Contact billing-issues@mit.edu.
The costing sheet on my WBS element has changed. Who would I contact to make the necessary indirect cost adjustment?
Contact ur-issues@mit.edu.
How do I close out a cost object?
Send an email to VPF Cost Objects.
What is underrecovery?
Underrecovery may occur in a research WBS element where overhead specifications (F&A rates or direct cost base) are established at less than the current negotiated federal rates. More information can be found on the Research Administration Services (RAS) page on Underrecovery.
What is a costing sheet?
Costing sheets are used in SAP to provide the basis and rates for the calculation of Facilities and Administration (F&A) charges. During the monthly close the costing sheet process is run to charge cost objects with the appropriate F&A or fund fees; the costing sheet used for a cost object is displayed on the Summary Statement.
What’s the policy on accruals and deferrals?
At the end of the fiscal year, all MIT departments should accrue and defer any material expenses and revenues. See the Policies section for more information.
Is MIT on an accrual basis?
MIT is on a modified accrual basis. At the end of the fiscal year, all obligations incurred but not paid and all revenues earned but not received are recorded, and expenses and revenues relating to subsequent periods are deferred.
What is MIT’s fiscal year?
MIT’s fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30. The general ledger and all financial reports are produced on a fiscal year basis.
What activities at MIT are subject to tax?
In a nutshell, MIT has three main tax areas: sales tax, meals and alcohol tax, and unrelated business income tax. Under each category many activities are exempt. In order to determine whether or not your DLC has taxable activity, please contact Jeremy Raphael or Rebecca Menin at VPF Tax.
My department sells merchandise (mugs, t-shirts, reprints). Do we need to collect sales tax?
It depends on the nature of the item. Massachusetts sales tax is 6.25% percent of the sales price of the item. However, many items are exempt from sales tax. For details, see Massachusetts Department of Revenue – A Guide to Sales & Use Tax. If you believe that your DLC owes sales tax on items that it sells, contact Jeremy Raphael or Rebecca Menin at VPF Tax.
Does MIT reimburse for sales tax?
Generally, no. Be sure to bring MIT's sales tax form to the vendor if purchase must be made with your own credit card or cash.