Taxpayer Advocacy Panel

Minutes

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)
IRS Forms & Publications/Language Services
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 2:00-3:00 pm EST

Designated Federal Official (DFO)
Nancy L. Ferree, TAP Program Manager, Plantation, FL

Members Present
Kimberly Brown, Blakeslee, PA
Margaret Ferguson, Vista, CA
Christopher Freeman, Chaska, MN
Howard Guthmann, St. Paul, MN
Joseph Holley, Barboursville, WV
Gim Hom, Acton, MA
Jeff Kennedy, Louisville, KY
Lev Martyniuk, Cincinnati, OH
Richard Waterman, Campbell, CA
Kenneth Wright, Ashland, MO – Vice- Chair

Members Absent
George Bates Jr., Great Falls, MT
Alberto Rodriguez, Miami, FL -- Chair
Louis Kapugi, Sharpsburg, GA
Reagan Lynch, Midland, TX

Staff Present
Anita Fields, Secretary
Inez DeJesus, TAP Analyst
Maria Cheeks, MLI senior Analyst
Marilyn Correa, Acting Chief, MLI Strategy
Patty Wagner, Sr. Technical Advisor, Tax Forms and Pubs
Carole Barnette, Tax Forms and Pubs
Bob Erickson, Sr. Technical Advisor, Tax Forms and Pubs

Welcome & Roll Call/Quorum
Ken Wright acting Chair welcomed everyone and thanked them all for coming. He asked Anita to take roll. Quorum was met.

Introduction of Guest
Donna Powers, South Florida’s LTA Secretary

Review of March 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes
March minutes were approved as written by consensus with one correction noted: "On page 2, Update from Language Services Office, third line “Inez stated that she has not" instead of "have not".

Update from Tax Forms & Pubs Office

Patty Wagner reported that they received Issue 4642, Review top 5 Publications for automatic links to other forms. We are taking some of them into considerations and are probably going to link some of the ones that were recommended. Patty stated she had also asked for the top 5 publications to be revised. After speaking with Sue Sottile we will possibly like for the committee to take a look at those also. The 5 pubs that the committee thought should be revised are: Pub 526 Charitable Contributions, Pub 541 Partnerships, Pub 542 Corporations, Pub 560, and Retirement Plans for Small Business and Pub 908 Bankruptcy Tax Guide. Patty will send these to Inez and she will send them out as the committee can do the work. Ken Wright asked that Patty prioritize the pubs as she sends them to Inez. Ken asked Inez to post the new issue to issue 4642; that way members can go in and review them and decide which pub they want to work on. They can send the decisions by email.

Update from Language Services Office
Marilyn Correa thanked the committee for the responses received from the issues submitted. She has an additional assignment for the committee to take a look at the Spanish free file page on irs.gov and link to the two companies listed. Give feedback on the way the two companies are delivering their services. Instructions will be sent to Inez on how to complete. She would like to have it completed within 30 days from the time the instructions are given to the committee. Marilyn will send the information to Inez.

Issues Discussion

Issue 4517- Pub 560- Retirement Planning Status
Richard Waterman reported it is complete and ready to be forwarded to Patty Wagner. Inez will review and forward to Patty Wagner today’s call.

Issue 4518- Pub 590- IRA (Status)
Louis Kapugi is not on the call. There is nothing to report.

Issue 4270-Review Form 8850
Chris Freeman reported that it is complete. The response was forwarded on March 26, 2008 to the Program Owner.

Issue 4577-Review Pub 4445D
It was reported that Al Rodriguez stated that he will have something to report in 2 weeks.

Issue 4578-Review Spanish Forms & Pubs Available from the IRS
Complete and forwarded to program owner.

Sue 4642, Review top 5 Publications for automatic links to other forms (3-26-08)
It was reported that this issue is complete. The response was forwarded on March 25, 2008 to Program Owner.

Possible New Issues—Create Subcommittees

Issue 3900 Schedule H Instruction

Ken stated that it has already been accepted. Patty reported that they have accepted to work on and can’t say at this time that the changes will be accepted. I have sent it to the person that owns the form and they agreed that there are some issues that need to be addressed. Patty states that she doesn’t know if it will be accepted in full but they will definitely take them into consideration. This issue will be placed in parking lot status for now.

Issue 3948 Form 944 Change Threshold-Parking as per IRS Program Owner

This will be in the parking lot until spring. Inez has not heard anything since the last report. As per the current procedures, instead of sending Bob one issue at a time, we will be forwarding him a group of issues. Just going to keep this issue is in the parking lot.

Joe Holley mentioned that the IRS may do away with the Form 944 at the end of this year. Bob Erickson stated that, that is a policy issue. That decision is in the Commissioner’s office.

Face-to-Face Meeting
Nancy Ferree mentioned that the face-to-face meeting location may be changed based on cost comparisons. The date will remain the same Jun 11-13, 2008. It was asked if the meeting was held in Plantation will the Program Owners be able to attend. Nancy stated that they will be invited and it will be taken into consideration.

Open Forum
Ken Wright and the entire committee wanted to bid Inez farewell and thank her for all of her service. Margaret Ferguson mentioned that it will be a great loss to the committee. Nancy mentioned that we are a little closer to having a Junior Analyst. They should be in place within the next 30 days.

Joe Holley asked how the IRS decides what is accepted and what’s not accepted. Ken answered that it will come from the Program Owner. Normally when we make comments they generally state that they like our comments and will take them into consideration.

Closing--Meeting Survey reminder
Ken reminded everyone to please complete the meeting survey. If you don’t have it, it is on TAPSpace. Meeting adjourned 2:30pm.

Next Meeting is Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 2:00pm EST

*Certification: These minutes were approved by the committee by consensus on May 6, 2008.