Ad Hoc Issue Committee Minutes

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
Ad Hoc Teleconference
July 13, 2006
2:00 PM

Designated Federal Official (DFO)

• Nancy L. Ferree, TAP Program Manager, Plantation, FL

Members Present

• Rashidah Abdulhaqq, Cleveland, OH
• Emilio Cecchi, North Bethesda, MD
• Larry Combs, Yuba City, CA
• Margaret Ferguson, Vista, CA
• Patrice Marker, Davie, FL, Chair
• Willy Nordwind, Scottsdale, AZ
• Ralph Rivera, Garland, TX

Members Absent

• George Bates, Great Fall, MT, Vice Chair
• JoAnn Davis, Scott Depot, WV
• Dorothy Havey, Lincolnville, ME
• Gim Hom, Acton, MA
• Donald Miller, Loudon, TN (Attending Area 4 Face-to-Face Meeting)

Staff Present

• Inez E. De Jesus, TAP Program Analyst

Welcome and Announcements
Chair Patrice Marker opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

Roll Call
Quorum of 7 was met; 7 members were present.

Review and Approve Minutes of June 15-17, 2006
Minutes were not ready for approval.

Updates on Action Items from Last Meeting & Proposals from last Month:

1. 1) Issue 3303, MLI Needs Assessment-Draft Proposal-
   Chair Marker reported that Dorothy Havey had attempted earlier today to email to the entire committee the current draft proposal, but to no avail. Willy Nordwind made some suggestions that would be communicated to Dorothy so that the proposal be updated accordingly.
   
   The MLI Needs Assessment Draft Proposal has been moved to next month’s agenda. (Action item)
   
2. 2) Issue 3905, On-Line Pub 17-Status of Proposal-
   Since the face-to-face meeting, Inez has made the changes to the document and via email received approval from the panel. On July 10, 2006, the committee’s Comments and Proposed Recommendations were forwarded to Sue Sottile and Bob Erickson- Forms & Publications Program Owners.
   
3. 3) Issue 3924, Return Preparer Regulations-Position Paper for the IRS Commissioner-
   Chair Patrice Marker shared that the final proposal in summary stated the following:

   “That the IRS provides a standardized test similar to the VITA model currently being used. Also, that a fee be charged to cover the cost of the program. To implement this program, IRS could develop/administer training courses and/or certify existing educational programs in place by private and educational providers. In addition to covering tax law issue, training should cover ethics topics. Licensing and regulation including background check along with a set of minimum standards of education and experience is also recommended.”

   Chair Marker informed everyone that she is currently waiting for TAP Program Analyst Barbara Toy to send her the final version since at the JC face-to-face meeting there had been some changes made to this document. As soon as the chair receives the revised version, she will share with the entire committee and staff. Action item for Chair Marker.

Issue #3923, Financial Literacy Toolkit-Next Steps
Since the face-to-face meeting, on June 20, 2006, Inez mailed out to the entire committee copies of the Financial Literacy Toolkit (PowerPoint Presentation, Strategic Plan and Statement of Objectives) (This information is also available on TAP Speak)

It was discussed that there will be focus groups at this year’s tax forums.

During the face-to-face meeting last month in DC, Ms. Mallon, Attorney Advisor, TAS, requested that this committee review this toolkit and provide her with feedback via the TAP Staff by no later than September 30, 2006.

Also, as brochures are created, the committee is to provide feedback.

Action item for the committee

Several panel members such as Paul Brubaker, TAP Vice Chair and the Area 7 committee have expressed interest in this subject matter as well.

Action item for Nancy Ferree: Follow-up with Ms. Mallon to inquire if there are any brochures for the panel to review at this time. Ferree suggested that in the interim the committee should review the “action plan.”

The committee agreed that the current Ad Hoc Forms and Pubs subcommittee will be assigned to review the Financial Literacy Toolkit: the members of this team are: Cecchi, Combs, Hom, Miller and Rivera.

MLI Needs Assessment Further Guidance
MLI Program Owner Marilyn Correa had sent an email out to all explaining that she would not be able to participate on today’s call due to other work commitments. She shared with the sub-committee that she will be meeting with them in the near future prior to the next teleconference meeting.

Members Comments
Margaret Ferguson informed everyone that she would not be on next month’s call.

Ms. Ferguson made an inquiry about the possible duplication of efforts from many committees such as TAP, Tax Professionals, and SAMS (Systemic Advocacy Management System). She wondered if anyone was coordinating all of these efforts.

Public Input
None

Closing Assessment – Q&A
Chair Marker requested that a copy of the Chair’s June 2006 report be shared with the entire committee. Action item for Inez.

Chair informed everyone that the Director of Forms and Publications will be in touch with us as soon as they have products to be reviewed by the committee.

Action item for Inez: make sure that the August 10, 2006 agenda includes discussion about the October 12, 2006 meeting.

DFO Nancy Ferree thanked everyone who had participated with the recent Interviews.

Chair adjourned the meeting.

Next Teleconference Meeting: August 10, 2006 at 2:00 PM ET

Certification: These minutes were approved by consensus by the TAP Ad Hoc Committee on: August 10, 2006.