Area 1 Committee Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2006
Teleconference

Designated Federal Official

• Ramirez, Sandra - Brooklyn, NY - Manager

Committee Members Present

• Epstein, Harvey - Lee, NH - Vice Chair
• Gadon, Harold - Cranston, RI - Member
• Guthman, Michael - Westport, CT - Member
• Havey, Dorothy - Lincolnville, ME - Chair
• Hom, Gim - Acton, MA - Member
• Margulies, Howard - North Easton, MA - Member
• Parra, Luis - Bronx, NY - Member
• Searleman, Sanford - Glens Falls, NY - Member
• Zgoda, Bruce - Clarence, NY - Member

Committee Members Absent

• Barry, Shaun - Franklin Square, NY - Member
• Fallacaro, Betsy - Boston, MA - LTA

TAP Staff

• Jenkins, Audrey - Brooklyn, NY - Analyst
• Odom, Meredith - Brooklyn, NY - Secretary

Other Attendees
N/A

Welcome/Announcements/Review Agenda
Havey welcomed everyone

Roll Call (quorum has been met)

JC Report Out
Havey informed the committee that the list of new members has gone to Treasury. She also informed them of some of the items for the annual meeting. Coston has met Olson to discuss 2007 strategies; she will be addressing the panel at the Annual Meeting. Olson would like to have 4 Town Halls in 2007. The communication committee has a strategy for revamping TapSpeak, there is a new format that will be introduced. There has been no feedback from the IRS Commissioner on the 5 issues that were forwarded. Someone will follow up on this. The current Issue Committees will continue next year and every member has been assigned to an Issue Committee.

Subcommittee Report Out

• Subcommittee 1 – Epstein informed the committee that a subject matter expert was to meet with them but was unable to. The committee discussed Form 8300, E-file and 1127. There were questions on whether these items were approved in the full committee and the JC committee analyst has no record of receiving them. These items will be forwarded. The proposal is whether or not to update this form. Jenkins will provide the entire committee with an email for approval.
• Subcommittee 2 – Hom discussed the 8453 and reviewed what the full committee said. Gadon will makes some changes and resubmit it to the JC. Gadon will attend on the December 6th JC meeting.

The committee discussed the electronic online payment. A copy of the proposal was attached to the agenda for this call for the entire committee to look at. Knispel feels this proposal is not ready because the proposal doesn’t indicate how it can be done. Ramirez feels the issue statement is extremely long, a lot of the items should go to background for research. The second paragraph should go under proposed solution. Hom feels this will reduce paperwork because there is no form to send in. Ramirez feels this should go under benefits. Knispel feels the title should be more specific because the IRS has many electronic payment options.

In 2008, on the books is zero capitol gains if you are in the lowest two income tax brackets. Hom would like to know if there is a process where a taxpayer could raise their cost basis without selling their stock? If you have any new proposal, email them to Jenkins.

Outreach Report Out by Members
Parra – Was invited to speak about the function of TAP to a group of Taxpayers.

Gadon – IRS called a meeting of tax preparers and Gadon was invited.

Havey – Attended a meeting of tax preparers. In addition Havey attended a meeting with the National Association of Women Business Owners. Havey met with the LTA of Maine and they met with several different businesses to promote TAP.

Zgoda – Spoke with independent accountants at a dinner and did a power point presentation on TAP. Zgoda spoke at a seminar at the Tax Institute. Zgoda will speak again at the IRS seminar in conjunction with the University of Buffalo. Zgoda was at the LTA’s office and is invited to the next practitioner liaison meeting.

Please be sure to provide Jenkins with any outreach.

Issue Committee Update
Epstein discussed what the VITA Committee is working on. The committee is working with the IRS SPEC organization in developing and refining their test, certification and teaching materials for the next tax season.

Havey discussed that Ad Hoc has been quiet and working on some issues. Hom states the 1040 form that should be resolved for tax year 2008 will be done by 2009.

Other
Comments/Questions

Annual Assessment
Havey forwarded the entire committee the format to providing an assessment to providing the activities for the year. This form should be forwarded to Jenkins.

Annual Meeting
Ramirez gave the committee an update on the meeting. The Agenda is still in draft form. The Area 1 committee will meet on December 11th at 10:50 am. The rest of the day will consist of plenary sessions. Area 1 will resume on December 12th at 8:00 am. Barry, Gadon and Zgoda will serve as instructors at workshops during the Annual Meeting. The Area 1 committee meeting dinner will be on Tuesday December 12th. The TAP chair elections will take place on Monday December 11th.  On Monday evening, there will be a Social for all members starting at 5:30 pm. Havey hopes there is some interest in running for chair and vice chair for Area 1. This teleconference will be Searleman’s last meeting.

Office Report
Ramirez informed the committee that the teams that participated in the revision of the vision statement. Coston has presented Olson with this proposal, and it is still being worked on.

There is no indication of anyone interested in running for TAP Vice/Chair as of yet. The option is still open.

Public Participation
None