You may have seen the acronym TIF pop-up on a ledger or been asked to account for it in your department’s monthly reports—but what exactly is the Technology Infrastructure Fee at UCLA and how does it relate to effort-bearing earn codes?
What is TIF?
The Technology Infrastructure Fee (TIF) is a charge assessed to campus departments to help fund the maintenance and development of UCLA’s core technology services. These services include everything from campus-wide Wi-Fi and secure data storage, to essential networking and cybersecurity systems. Think of it as the behind-the-scenes backbone that keeps UCLA connected, secure, and running smoothly.
Accurate TIF accounting ensures that departments are appropriately funding the technology resources they rely on daily. It also prevents compliance issues and potential headaches during audits. Understanding how these fees work helps you paint a clearer financial picture for your department.
Learn more about TIF from UCLA Digital Technology and Solutions.
TIF & Effort-Bearing Earn Codes
TIF is generally associated with payroll-related transactions. If you’re managing budgets or ledgers for a department, you might see this fee pop up in your financial reports, tied to specific earn codes or payroll entries.
Not all earn codes carry effort—meaning, they don’t all represent compensated work tied to direct labor. If you’re trying to figure out whether a particular earn code should include TIF charges or not, you can refer to Effort Bearing Earn Codes With TIF.
If you need assistance discerning earn codes which normally carry effort, open a CRU Payroll Partner case under the General Ledger topic. This is the recommended path to get accurate guidance and ensure you’re accounting for TIF correctly.
The next time TIF shows up in your reports, you’ll know what it is, why it’s there, and who to call if you need help. The more you know!
