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 2009.  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 three 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:

Little Rock, AR – Thursday February 12, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
University of Arkansas, Little Rock Law School, Friday Courtroom
1201 McMath Ave, Little Rock, AR 72202

Oklahoma City, OK – Thursday March 26, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Metro Tech-Automotive Technology Center (ATC Building Lecture Hall)
4901 S. Bryant Ave. Oklahoma City OK 73129

Albany, NY – Tuesday April 28, 2009 from 5:30 PM- 7:30 PM 
Albany Law School, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
1928 Building, Room West 212, 2nd Floor
80 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY  12208

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.