Description of Accounts

CS has based its Chart of Accounts on the United Way's Universal Chart of Accounts.  Below is a description of each account type that we use. The number in parenthesis is the tax form and line of the form where these accounts are recorded.

Income Accounts

• 4000 • Contributed support (990 line 1a)
  This is all member verifications and donations
• 5310 • Interest-banking (990 line 4 & 95)
  This is all interest earned from the bank account
• 5810   Special Events non gift revenue (990 line 9a & 101)
  This account is for earnings such as royalty payments

Expense Accounts

• 7220 • Salaries of Professional Staff (990 line 26)
  This is Salary for hired staff working for CouchSurfing
  

• 7250 • Payroll Taxes (990 line 29)
  This is the CouchSurfing share of the cost of payroll
  

• 7515 • Bookkeeping Fees (990 line 31)
  The cost of paying a bookkeeper
  

• 7520 • Accounting Fees (990 line 31)
  This is the cost of paying a certified public accountant to file taxes on behalf of Couchsurfing
  

• 7525 • Bank Service Fees (990 line 31)
  Bank charges including credit card fees for donation and verification, PayPal fees, international transaction fees and wire transfer costs.

• 7530 • Legal fees (990 line 32)
  This is the amount that we pay for attorney fees, consulting fees, and document fees

• 7540 • Web/Internet/ Host Fees (990 line 43)
  This is the cost of web hosting, search engine, domain name charges, etc.

• 7550 • Temporary Help- contract (990 line 43)
  This is the cost of hiring someone on a temporary basis

• 8110 • Office Expense/ Supplies (990 line 33)
  Supplies needed for service to the community, including office supplies, business cards, computer supplies ie: software, batteries,memory.  It can also include household supplies as needed, light bulbs, paper towels, etc

• 8130 • Telephone & telecommunications (990 line 34)
  This is the cost of cell phones, Internet phones, Internet messaging, Internet connections, wireless communications

• 8140 • Postage, shipping, delivery (990 line 35)
  This is the cost of all postage for mailing verification letters and shipping for any packages

• 8160 • Equip rental & maintenance (990 line 37)
  This is the cost of renting and maintaining our servers

• 8210 • Rent, Parking and Other Occupancy (990 line 36)
  This is rent for housing, storage, parking space, office space
  

• 8215 • Building Repair and Maintenance (990 line 36)
  The cost of any repair to or in a rented space
  

• 8220 • Utilities (990 line 36)
  The cost of any and all utilities in a rented office space or residence

• 8305 • Auto/ Fuel Expense (990 line 39)
  This is anything related to any automobile expense, including repairs and maintenance

• 8310 •Travel (990 line 39)
  This is anything to do with travel including air, train, bus, rental cars, meals, cab

• 8320 • Meetings Expense (990 line 40)
  Any amount spent while having a meeting within the organization
  

• 8330 • Meals/ Groceries expenses (990 line 40)
  This is the cost of all expenses spent on food while at a collective or staff meeting

• 8520 • Insurance - non employee (990 line 43)
  Any insurance purchased that is not employee related, usually auto or travel insurance

Notes

• Emergency Fund
  CouchSurfing has established and will maintain a fund in the event of an emergency.  The goal of the fund is to provide for 3 months of operating expenses.