Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Community Town Hall Meetings  
Taxpayers Can Share Suggestions, Concerns with IRS

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), in conjunction with the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), is pleased to announce a series three of Town Hall Meetings scheduled for 2008.  In each session, a panel of TAP members will solicit input from citizens on how they want to interact with the IRS now and in the future.  National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, who heads the Taxpayer Advocate Service and has oversight responsibility for TAP, will lead and moderate the discussion to learn firsthand what citizens have to say.  TAP and TAS conducted similar public town hall meetings in several locations around the country the past two years which produced an informative and useful exchange of ideas.

All three events are open to the public and admission is free.  Details are as follows:

Birmingham, AL – Thursday February 21, 2008
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Homewood Public Library Main Auditorium
1721 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL

Durham, NC – Thursday March 13, 2008
from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Durham County Public Library, Main Auditorium
300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC.

Springfield, IL – Tuesday May 6, 2008
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p. m.
Trutter Center
Lincoln Land Community College
5250 Shepherd RD
Springfield, IL 62794

The events will feature:

• Opening remarks from local TAP representatives;
• A one-hour main session featuring National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, who will facilitate an open forum dialogue with taxpayers to solicit direct feedback and concerns about IRS customer service;
• Attendance by TAP members and Local Taxpayer Advocates, to speak with taxpayers about their concerns; and
• A focus group session to further explore IRS customer service issues in a small group setting.

The Town Halls will allow taxpayers to voice issues, suggestions and concerns regarding IRS customer service practices. Local TAP members will listen to taxpayer comments and use the feedback to drive change in the way the IRS delivers services to the public.

"Taxpayer input is critical to helping the IRS improve customer service, but many taxpayers don't know where or how to speak up," said National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson. "TAP has one hundred members nationwide, who are committed to listening to issues identified by taxpayers. These Town Hall Meetings are an opportunity for direct citizen input into IRS decision making."

By attending a TAP Town Hall Meeting, taxpayers can speak up and tell TAP and the IRS how customer service in their community can be improved. Please attend to help answer the question, “How can the IRS better serve you?”

If you have questions about these events or would like additional information about TAP, please call 1-888-912-1227.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should.

You can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TTD 1-800-829-4059 to determine if you are eligible for assistance.  You can also call or write to your local taxpayer advocate, whose phone number and address are listed in your local telephone directory and in Publication 1546, Taxpayer Advocate Service – Your Voice at the IRS.  You can file Form 911, Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance And Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order), or ask an IRS employee to complete it on your behalf.  For more information, go to www.irs.gov/advocate.