Ad Hoc Issue Committee Minutes

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
Ad Hoc Teleconference
July 14, 2005

Designated Federal Official

• Judi Nicholas

Attendance

• Larry Behnkendorf
• Larry Combs
• Harold Gadon
• Steven Landauer
• Patrick McCombie
• Buck Paolone
• Teresa Smedley
• Faith Vinikoor
• Sherry Whah
• Lillian Woo

Absent

• Larry Barnard
• David Cain
• Greg Maciulla
• Patrick Matthews
• Deborah Thomas

Staff

• Mary Peterson O’Brien, TAP Analyst
• Marla Ofilas, Note Taker

Welcome/Roll Call
Sherry welcomed the committee. Marla performed roll call and a quorum was met. Sherry made additions to the end of the agenda, Letter regarding Licensing; and Future Issues for Ad Hoc.

Ad Hoc Subcommittee Issue Report Out

• IRS CPE for Employees
  The committee reviewed the completed referral. All agreed that it was a good job on the written recommendation except for a few typographical errors.

  Decision: The committee agreed to elevate the issue once the corrections and formatting are completed.

  Action: The committee agreed to email any corrections found to TAP Analyst.

• On-Line Publication 17 – Education
  Larry asked the committee if there were questions or suggestions to the referral that was worked by the sub committee. No suggestions or additions were made. Sherry felt that the committee did an excellent job.

  Larry discussed that Denise would like to receive both recommendation, Education and Searchability, as one recommendation. Each committee will continue with providing two separate referrals but it would be submitted to Denise under one cover letter.

  Decision: The committee agreed to elevate the issue once the corrections are completed.

  Action: The committee agreed to email any corrections found to TAP Analyst.

• On-Line Publication 17 – Searchability
  Faith explained that the document is in draft form and is still being worked on by the members of her sub committee. The TAP Analyst is working on the graphics that will be included in the recommendation. The committee felt that it would be important to illustrate recommended changes. TAP manager discussed the barriers associated with completing the project since the TAP analyst will be out of the office until August 8th and has other commitments to complete for her two other committees.

  Decision: The sub committee will continue to work on their recommendation. The Ad Hoc committee had decided to reschedule their meeting to August 22, 2005 to allow additional time for Mary and the sub committee to complete their recommendation. The sub committee scheduled a teleconference on August 9, 2005.

Cover Letter
The TAP manager asked for feedback regarding the content of the letter. It was discussed that feedback regarding grammar could be done via email. Larry felt that it was a good letter. Lillian also felt that it was clear to the approach that was taken.

Decision: All agreed that no additional changes are needed to the letter and all felt that the letter looks good.

The committee asked when Denise could respond to the recommendation. The TAP manager explained that she has committed to respond within 3 months of receiving the recommendation.

Action: TAP manager will confirm the timeframe with Denise in which they could expect a response as well as to keep the retiring members informed.

Letter to Nina Olson
Sherry discussed the purpose of writing a letter to Nina is to follow up on the status of the Practitioner Licensing recommendation that was elevated last year, by the Ad Hoc committee. The letter was produced and forwarded by Lillian for comments and additions. Lillian explained that David would be outlining what the appraisal foundation does, in terms of the minimum standard of practice, and include it in the letter.

One of the questions asked during the tax forums is "What you think about un-enrolled preparer?" The Oversight Board asked for a copy of the Ad Hoc recommendation. Larry asked if that was some thing the committee could do. Judi felt that it could be done but Nina Olson and Bernie Coston should be informed that the Oversight Board had made this request.

Action: Lillian agreed to send a formal memo to Sherry, as Chair of the Ad Hoc committee indicating the request from the Oversight Board. Lillian will email a copy of the recommendation to the Oversight Board and copy Nina and Bernie.

Decision: Sherry, Lillian, and David will finalize the letter to Nina and present it to the committee during their next meeting.

Future for Ad Hoc
During the face-to-face meeting, the committee had asked the TAP manager to explore potential issues for the committee to work. The outcome of her discussion with the TAP Director was that there could be a possibility that the Ad Hoc committee would be replaced as an issue committee with a specific issue to work. There will not be additional issues worked during the remainder of this year and felt that the committee has sufficient work to keep them busy until September.

Sherry asked if there were additional comments. No comments were made and Sherry adjourned the meeting.

Next meeting will be August 22, 2005.