TAP AD HOC Committee Meeting
September 13, 2007

DFO:

• Sallie Chavez, Program Analyst(Acting DFO), Plantation, FL

MEMBERS PRESENT:

• Kimberly Hudson-Brown, Blakeslee, PA
• Chris Freeman, Pleasant Hill, IA – Vice Chair
• Margaret Ferguson, Vista, CA
• Gim Hom, Acton, MA
•  Mary Ann Lawler, Dearborn, MI
• MJ Lee, Portola Valley, CA – Chair
• Patrice Marker, Davie, FL
• Alberto Rodriguez, Miami, FL
• William Yaeger, Alexandria, VA
• Kenneth Wright, Ashland, MO

 MEMBERS ABSENT:

• George Bates, Great Falls, MT
• Mary Armstrong, Pensacola, FL

STAFF:

• Glenn Kirkland, Acting Chief, MLI Strategy Office
• Sue Sottile, Director of Tax Forms and Pubs
• Inez DeJesus, Program Analyst, Plantation, FL
• Anita Fields, TAP Secretary-note- taker, Plantation, FL

GUEST:

• Carole Barnett, Acting Chief, Individual Forms and Publications Branch
• Rick Baker, Chief, Individual Specialty Publications
• Jim Reed, TEGE Forms and Publications

Welcome / Review Agenda / Introductions
Chair MJ Lee welcomed everyone and reviewed the agenda.

Roll Call
Anita Fields performed a roll call of attendees. Quorum of 7 was met.

Approval of Previous Meeting’s Minutes
The committee approved by consensus the minutes for July and August.

TAP meeting with IRS Commissioner
MJ Lee talked about her meeting with Acting IRS Commissioner Kevin Brown.  Her topic on 2007 TAP projects covered the MLI DVD, Forms & Pubs reviews, and the TAC surveys.  She emphasized the reason these projects are working well is because of the superb partnering relationship that has been established with the Program Owners.

Update from MLI Program Owner
Glenn Kirkland stated that they expect to get feedback from the nationwide Tax Forums.  The interactive DVD is being updated, the previous one made reference to 2006 forms and now they are revamping it to add links to the IRS website, therefore it won’t be year specific.

Margaret Ferguson stated that at the Forum in Anaheim a lady had two Spanish DVDs and she was just wondering if it is the one Glenn Kirkland spoke of.  Sue Sottile replied that it may have been produced by an external assistance group in San Diego.   Margaret Ferguson will make contact with this lady next month and give an update on where she received the DVD. 

Next Steps for MLI Subcommittee
The DVD will tentatively be ready by the end of September. 
ACTION: Glenn Kirkland will assign someone to work with Bill Yaeger and the subcommittee.  The subcommittee will resume the line up of ESLs to test the Spanish DVD and review where the evaluation forms should be used.

Update from Tax Forms & Pubs Subcommittee
Sue Sottile thanked the committee for their comments on the 1040 instructions for 2007; she realizes the committee’s hard work and it is greatly appreciated.  Sue Sottile informed the committee that they are now in the process of working on the 1040 packet and on track with getting it completed.  They are including information about the Taxpayer Advocate Service in the 1040 Package.  There’s no pending legislation and the package will be going to print the end of October.

Kenneth Wright asked a question regarding Qualified Joint Venture.  Sue Sottile stated it will be mentioned with the Schedule C instructions.  ACTION: Sue Sottile stated that she will send a copy to Inez DeJesus to forward to Ken then they will have a conference with Bob Erickson to discuss.

Al Rodriguez and Patrice Marker reviewed and compared the 2007 instructions with the 2006 instructions to ensure that the changes had been made.  They proposed that the mention of TAP not be a part of the instructions due to taxpayers flooding TAP with individual issues. ACTION:  Carole Barnett will forward to Inez the first pages of the 1040, which now reference TAS, and if this does not address Area 2’s request, then MJ Lee will inform Lyn Sinnamon that Ad Hoc will leave the issue for Area 2 to elevate.

Approve Ad Hoc recommendations for
Issue 4306-- TETR Response—the committee discussed and approved recommendation.
Issue 4305-- Form 1040 Instructions— The committee discussed and approved the recommendation.
Issue 4270-- Form 8850—Chris Freeman will consolidate the responses and send out for comments.  He will have it done within the next couple of weeks.

Discussion Process for Requests Requiring Quick Turnaround
Chair MJ Lee asked the committee if they were in agreement with the recent process that was used when Sue Sottile needed a quick response back.  The response was provided timely by the committee and during today’s call the recommendations were formally approved.  TAP Analyst Inez De Jesus expressed a concern on whether this practice was with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) guidelines since advice is being provided directly to the agency.  Acting DFC Sallie Chavez expressed that proposals/recommendations to the IRS should be approved by consensus before being sent to the Program Owner in an “open meeting” setting. 
ACTION:  Inez will discuss with the DFO & TAP Program Manager Nancy Ferree upon her return to the office and further research will be done on the matter and a teleconference will be scheduled with the Ad Hoc Chair for clarification.

Closing—Meeting Survey reminder
MJ reminded everyone to complete and send in the meeting survey.

Closing
MJ informed the committee that she will not be present on next month’s call and Chris Freeman agreed to chair the meeting.

Next meeting: October 11, 2007 2:00 ET Teleconference

These minutes are scheduled to be approved at our next meeting

Certification:  These minutes were approved by consensus by the TAP Ad Hoc Committee on:  October 11, 2007.