2014 Federal Income Tax Return asks for a "Student ID"?

I’m applying to UChicago as a freshman undergraduate this year, and I’m currently in the process of submitting my federal income tax return. The guidelines require a “college or program assigned Student ID (if the student has one, or Social Security Number if he or she does not).” This is where I’m a little confused:

Do I have a “program assigned Student ID,” and if so, what is it? Is it just the e-mail address that I signed up with? Or is it my reference number? Or do I just use my social security number?

just use the SS #

Use your SSN for income tax return.

Your UChicago application has nothing to do with the IRS. Colleges use SSN to identify applicants. If an applicant does not have a SSN, the college will assign a number for that indentification purpose. That ID is only meaningful to the college, not the IRS. This usually apply to international students because they don’t have US SSN.

@menloparkmom By “submitting my federal income tax return” I mean I’m submitting it to the school. Do I still use my SSN?

Do you have a UChicago assigned Student ID? If yes, use that one. Write that number on the top pages of your tax documents to send to UC. They need to know which applicant the documents belong to.

I misunderstod your question earlier. I thought you want to file your income tax return with the IRS.

@coolweather The thing is, I’m not sure what my UChicago ID is. I can’t tell if I’m supposed to use my reference number or just the email address that I signed up with.

you dont have a chicago ID and wont have one UNTIL YOU ARE ENROLLED THERE.
Until then, use your SS #.

Did you receive the application status from UC? Did they assign any application ID?

Yes, I understand the confusion here. Maybe the student ID only applies to the current students at the UC.

If you don’t have anything then probably you should write Name, SSN, date of birth on the forms.
You should call the FA office to ask first.

Do you fax, email, or use postal mail to send tax documents?

@menloparkmom @coolweather Thank you both so much. I really appreciate it.

You said you have a reference number? It’s safe to write both that number and SSN on the forms.

“Maybe the student ID only applies to the current students at the UC.”
EXACTLY

@coolweather Okay, I think I’ll do that just to be safe.