Taxpayer Advocacy Panel

Welcome and Announcements
Chair Patrice Marker opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and announced that Vice Chair George Bates Jr. will preside as chairperson during next month’s meeting on May 11, 2006, since she will be attending her area committee’s face-to-face meeting. DFO Nancy Ferree will also not be available since she too will attend the same meeting.

Review and Approve Minutes of March 9, 2006
These minutes were approved by consensus.

MLI’s Needs Assessment-Guidance from MLI Program Owners
Sharese Stevens, MLI Policy Analyst, participated on this call in order to provide some background and guidance on the MLI Limited English Proficient (LEP) Needs Assessment Project.

She started by sharing some history on what the prior TAP MLI Issue committee had done. Since the IRS has addressed Spanish LEP’s needs already, studies have indicated that the next group that should be addressed is the Asian taxpayers. The prior TAP members had conducted surveys in the States where they resided. Tennessee was the only one whereby responses were received. The prior MLI Chair attempted to contact an umbrella organization in Indiana but it did not work out.

Stevens also explained OMB (Office of Management & Budget) requirements if we are going to impact more than 9 persons; TAP is exempt from this OMB requirement.

Stevens suggested that the Ad Hoc MLI sub-committee review the “TAP Team #1 LEP Needs Assessment, 2005 Asian LEP Needs Assessment Report” PowerPoint presentation and look at the feedback received; what recommendations can this committee make to the IRS on this particular targeted population. What else can the IRS do to meet the needs of these taxpayers? In the past, it has been learned that lots of folks rely on their churches as a good vehicle for them to get information.

The current LEP Needs Assessment Report is incomplete; there is no information on Vietnamese and Chinese populations. The five top languages are Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian.

The chair inquired if there was a need to do more surveys? Stevens responded that we should look at what’s available now. All agreed that there are big communication needs that need to be addressed. The current sub-committee members reside in Ohio, Arizona, and Maine. Willy Nordwind is the team leader.

It was agreed that Marilyn Correa will proceed to work with the Ad Hoc MLI Sub-Committee and a meeting with Sharese Stevens will be coordinated.

Committee’s Feedback on:
Emilio Cecchi, Ad Hoc’s Tax Forms and Publications team leader opened this portion of the meeting by thanking both Bob Erickson and Sue Sottile for their participation during the last subcommittee teleconference meeting. He then proceeded to discuss the following forms and publications that have been placed in the “Referral format”

Publication #1, Your Rights As A Taxpayer- the entire committee agreed by consensus that they were in agreement with the summary review of this publication and that it was ready for referral to the IRS but beforehand the Ad hoc’s Quality Review team composed of JoAnn Davis and Margaret Ferguson would need to review.
Publication 553, Highlights of 2005 Tax Changes- during the discussion, there were objections to “Proposed Solution # 6” and the entire committee agreed by consensus that this needed to be reviewed again by the Tax Forms and Publications sub-committee for clarification.
Publication 4492, Information for Taxpayer’s Affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma- the entire committee agreed by consensus that they were in agreement with the summary review of this publication and that it was ready for referral to the IRS but beforehand the Ad hoc’s Quality Review team needed to review it.
Innocent Spouse Form 8857- the entire committee agreed by consensus that they were in agreement with the summary review of this form and that it was ready for referral to the IRS but beforehand the Ad hoc’s Quality Review team needed to review it.
Filing Season Products- these are all of IRS forms and publications that are used during the filing season and it will be an active and on-going project. Members were advised to “be on the alert”.

A suggestion was made that the Referral Form should show how the form or publication was before the proposed change, how it should be changed and why.

Forms and Publications Program Owner’s Guidance
Sue Sottile and Bob Erickson requested that this committee review Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax Guide. The previous Ad hoc committee had worked on this publication and had made a set of recommendations to the IRS. Sottile suggested that the progress be reviewed. A sub-committee call will be coordinated by the TAP staff.

This will be a new issue for this committee, Review Pub 17. Program Analyst is to compile background information, and share this information with the Tax Forms and Pubs sub-committee.

“Draft” Ground Rules
There were no objections and these ground rules will be adopted by this committee.

Members’ Comments
Margaret Ferguson announced that she has a new email address.

Gim Hom inquired about the concerns that Harvey Epstein, Area 1 Panel Member, had concerning W4 & W-4P issue. This committee has responded back to the Director of Tax Forms and Publications by agreeing to add on Form W-4, under “Purpose” “File the Form W-4P to adjust your withholding from pensions.” Bob Erickson shared that he had spoken to Harvey Epstein and the under withholding by individuals with both wages and pension income issue and Pub 519. This is being addressed by the Area 1 committee.

Public Input
None

Closing Assessment/Q&A
Chair Patrice Marker reminded everyone that George Bates Jr., will be chairing next month’s meeting, and she made herself available in case he has any questions or concerns.

Summary of Action items:

MLI Needs Assessment sub-committee (Nordwind, Abdulhaqq, and Havey) to follow-up with the MLI Program Owners to address the next steps.
Quality Review Team Members Jo Ann Davis and Margaret Ferguson are to review the Referrals regarding Pub 1, Pub 4492, and Form 8857. Once this is done, Inez will make the changes if any and submit to the chair. Referrals are to be sent to the Tax Forms and Publications Director with a copy to the Joint Committee.
The Ad Hoc Tax Forms and Pubs sub-committee is to clarify Referral regarding Pub 553 and report back to the entire committee. (Cecchi, Combs, Hom, Miller, and Rivera)
New Issue: Review Pub 17 will be processed as per TAP procedures and shared with the entire committee.
“Draft” Ground Rules will be finalized and shared with all by Inez.

Chair adjourned the meeting.

Next teleconference meeting: May 11, 2006 at 2:00 PM ET, Same Dial-in Number

Certification: These minutes were approved by consensus by the TAP Ad Hoc Committee on May 11, 2006.