Area 1 Committee Meeting
February 16, 2010
Teleconference
10:00 – 11:00 pm (EDT)

Designated Federal Official

• Benedetti, Elaine, LTA- Providence, RI

Committee Members Present

• Alvarado, Frank
• Cabusora, Haidee
• Gambardella, Linda
• Garant, Felicia, Vice Chair
• Gibbons, Jo Ann
• Morse, Cheryl, Chair
• Murray, Alan
• Steinberg, Stepner
• Stepner, Gerald, Vice Chair

Alternate Members Present

• Gould, Carolyn

Committee Members Absent

• Bernstein, Mark
• Jackson, Robert
• Leggett, John

TAP Staff

• Babb, Rose, TAP Management Assistant
• Jenkins, Audrey, Program Analyst
• Morizio, Louis, Program Manager
• Odom, Meredith, Program Analyst

Welcome/Announcements
Morse welcomed everyone to the call. She mentioned that a list of issues currently being worked on by members was emailed for review and clarification. If the list is not correct, members should inform her of any changes.

DFO Report
Benedetti mentioned the following about the Congressional Affairs Program (CAP) meeting in Washington, DC the week of February 1:

• All of the LTAs had to meet with their congressional members, and the meetings were successful.
• TAP fliers were included in the package that she took to the meeting.
• She had conversations with the Rhode Island congressional representatives, and informed them that they need to recruit a panel member from the state of Rhode Island this year.
• She also had conversations with New York State congressional representatives. They will be taking TAP filers to an outreach event scheduled for Saturday, February 20th.
• The National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson is still working on lien withdrawals

Office Report
Jenkins suggested that in order to keep track and have control of the issues being worked on by panel members, there should be some structure to the subcommittees. The panel members should follow the original plan starting with research, and then move to the writing process. There should be no more than three or four issues worked on a time. Jenkins also suggested that the writing and research subcommittees should set up standing conference calls with a date and time. The meetings would only be used if there is a need.

Morizio mentioned that the new database does not have any reports right now. As a result, reports cannot be pulled to see what is in active status or parking lot status. He mentioned that he has discussed this problem with Mary Ann Delzer, the administrator in charge of the database. She will have the reports available soon. It will take some time to develop the reports.

Issue 16865
For Form 5227, Split Interest Trust Information Return, Stepner suggested the following change:

5th sentence - change "If there was a checkbox........." to "If there were a checkbox........"
Delete the last sentence - "IRS should mail......only when requested."

The full committee voted to elevate the issue with the edits.

Issue 16662
Issue 5026, IRS Fraud Unit‘s website, worked on by Stepner, the format was changed.

The full committee voted to elevate this issue.

Best Practice Outreach
In January, Gambardella attended a breakfast for the National Association of Tax Professionals and Attorneys. Gambardella who is an officer of the Rotary International Club, met with other officers and she discussed her work as a TAP volunteer. She will also submit the name of a taxpayer for TAP membership and will be writing up some issues that were discussed. The Rotary International office in Georgia contacted her and requested information on TAP.

On 1/29, Stepner attended EITC Awareness Day at Boston City Hall. He spoke to taxpayers and gave out TAP material. He also spoke to a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston official, Paul Connelly about TAP as well.

On 2/3, Stepner invited his neighbor, a single mother to a local EITC Preparation Center. He mentioned that his neighbor spent $400.00 last year to have her taxes prepared by H & R Block. Stepner noted that the EITC site was very efficient and more comprehensive this year and that the Center deserved high marks for their operations.

Old Business
Morse said the following regarding Bernstein’s issue:

Issue 5301 on Centralized Appeals was researched by Bernstein. He noted there was no specific reference to the centralizing cases in appeals and suggested that this issue be dropped.

The committee agreed to drop the issue.

Screening Committee Reminder
Garant has a number of issues; they will be discussed subsequently to the full committee call today, to determine which ones will be worked on. Murray needs issues to write up. Leggett sent him an issue that he has written up. Morizio will take a look and provide feed back to Murray. When Morizio provides feedback to Murray, he will send the issue to the writing committee and then to the full committee for consensus

Public Participation: None