Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) Joint Committee Teleconference Minutes Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Designated Federal Official
Shawn F. Collins - TAP Director

Members Present
Thomas Walker - Vice Chair, TAP
Herbert Bohrer - Chair, Area 6
Susan DaCorte - Chair, Communications
Daniel Fretheim - Chair, Area 5
John Kim - Chair, Area 7
Cheryl Morse - Chair, Area 1
Mary Jean Potenzone - Chair, Area 2
Justin Axelrod - Vice Chair, VITA
Josefina Villarreal - Chair, EITC
Ann Spiotto - Chair, Area 4
Ernest Miller - Chair, Notices
Tommy Thompson - Chair, TAC
Susan Lynn Vice - Chair, Area 3

Members Absent
Lev Martyniuk - Chair, Forms and Pubs/MIL
Sabby Jonathan - TAP Chair
Harlan Barnett - Chair, SB/SE
Louis Kapugi - Chair, Area 3
Stephen Vanderver - Chair, VITA

Staff Present
Steven Berkey - Senior Program Analyst
Shelby McKenzie - TAP Secretary
Bill Mezger - Program Manager
Roy Block - Program Manager
Louis Morizio - Program Manager
Audrey Jenkins - Program Analyst
Ellen Smiley - Program Analyst
Marianne Ayala - Program Analyst

Guests
Bernadita Tehrani - LTA, Brooklyn

Welcome/Announcements/Review Agenda
Shawn Collins opened the meeting.

Roll Call
Quorum was met.

Review and Approve May Minutes
Minutes were approved by consensus.

Joint Committee (JC) Face-2-Face Draft Meeting Agenda
Tom Walker discussed agenda for JC Face-to-Face surveyed the line for any questions or concerns regarding the agenda.

Cheryl Morse advised the she would like to present a PowerPoint Presentation to share and would like to know who she needs to contact to ensure the handouts would be available for the meeting. Steve Berkey advised Morse to send the information to either Susan Gilbert or himself and they would ensure the information was made available during the meeting.

Area Issues for Review
Area 1—Issue #16604—Providing Estimated Tax Payment Information Via the Internet-- Cheryl Morse reviewed the issue for the committee. The issue pertains to taxpayers and tax preparers being able to get estimated tax payment information online prior to filing their taxes. The recommendation is to have the IRS set up a secure website where taxpayers and tax preparers are able to go and login to receive this information quarterly, similar to where’s my refund.
DECISION: The committee, by consensus, will approve at Joint Committee Face-to-Face

Area 1—Issue #16906—Identifying IRS Employee contacts— Cheryl Morse reviewed the issue for the committee. The issue pertains to the identification number given by IRS Employee is not helpful when trying to get in touch with that same employee again. The recommendation is to require the employee to give their Standard Employee Identification (SEID) to the taxpayer so the taxpayer will have a clear avenue when lodging a complaint if they receive less than professional service.

Louis Morizio advised that because of the privacy concerns with the SMART-ID Card the IRS is not able to track an employee by using their identification number.

Roy Block advised there was a similar issue in Area 4 and 5 and they support the issue because the database that was used to control the numbers can not be located.
DECISION: The committee, by consensus, approved to move forward with modifications to the Summary Conclusion.

Area 4—Issue #17016-Publication 505,—Confusing Language w/Attachment—Ann Spiotto reviewed the issue for the committee. The issue pertains to the language regarding the underpayment penalty in Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, is misleading. The recommendation is to replace the current language in the paragraph titled “Underpayment penalty.” With the sentence “See Chapter 4 for information on underpayment penalties.”
DECISION: The committee, by consensus, approved the issue for elevation to the IRS.

Area 5—Issue #16866-Bankruptcy, Toll Free Number—Tom Walker reviewed the issue for the committee. The issue pertains to the IRS establishing a toll free number for taxpayers facing a potential bankruptcy; however, the number is not readily available to the taxpayer public. The recommendation is that the IRS put this number in IRS Publication 908, Bankruptcy Tax Guide.
DECISION: The committee, by consensus, approved the issue for elevation to the IRS.

Area 7-Issue #17691—Examiner Accountability for Correspondence Exams—John Kim reviewed the issue for the committee. The issue pertains to correspondence audit issues. When taxpayers receive correspondence from an IRS employee and they try to call in to respond to the correspondence he/she speaks to a different examiner who is not familiar with the case or the taxpayer leaves a voice message that is not returned. The recommendation is that a name or identification number is made known to the taxpayer so the taxpayer can get hold of the individual who sent out the letter or that the new person they are speaking with has a way of reviewing what has previously happened to the case.
DECISION: The committee, by consensus, approved the issue for elevation to the IRS.

Shawn Collins reported that TAP has completed the ranking of the applications and undergoing the interview process; the deadline date for all interviews to be completed is Wednesday, June 30, 2010. Once interviews have been completed, identification of the recommended applicants will be determined and a proposal submitted to the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson.

Tom Walker reported the agenda for the July Face-to-Face meeting was currently in draft form with modifications being made . Any ideas for topics should be submitted to Walker.

The issue tracking spreadsheet has issues that are showing up multiple times. Morizio explained that issues show up multiple times because of the recommendations that are attached to the issue. Walker asked the chairs to ensure their issues are showing up on the spreadsheet.

Offer in Compromise (OIC)
Bernadita Tehrani reviewed OIC policy and reviewed the declination of the use of this program. More offers coming in but less are being accepted. Tehrani stated she would like to hear more on the problem of issues being stuck in the SAMS system instead of being worked.. Tehrani provided the JC members with her contact information and asked that anyone wanting to contact her via email to please send to Louis Morizio to be forwarded to her.

Area/Issue Committee Activities
Area 5—Daniel Fretheim reported the Area 5 met in Minneapolis was a success and there will be seven issues that are being elevated for the Joint Committee Face-to-Face.

Area 1—Morizio reported Area 1 will have four issues to forward for the Joint Committee Face-to-Face meeting.

Area 7—John Kim reported the work has slowed in their area; Walker advised this was an ongoing issue and suggested looking to the parking lot for additional work.

Area 2—Mary Jean Potenzone reported there are two new members, Seth Sanders and John Lees for Pennsylvania due to resignations.

Area 6 – Herb Bohrer reported a new panel member in Oregon, Beverly Phillips.

Public Input
No public input.

Closing
Collins closed the meeting.

Next Meeting: July 8-10, 2010 Face-to-Face (Chicago)