Area 1 Committee Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2007
Teleconference

Designated Federal Official

Committee Members Present (These attendees count for quorum)

TAP Staff

Other Attendees

Welcome
Roll Call (quorum has been met)

Chair Training Report Out
Havey updated the committee on the Chair Training held in San Diego. The training was broken up into two sessions, one session was for the area chairs and the other session was for the issue committees. There was a discussion on challenges that the areas have. There were some concerns of overlaps on issues to make sure more than one area was working on the same issue. There was a discussion on nonproductive members or nonparticipating members and how to write a good referral. Havey encouraged the members to do outreach and to report it to the analyst. There was a session on how to write monthly reports and quarterly reports. There was discussion on how to manage emails from area and issue committees. Ramirez reminded everyone about the outreach form that is used to report outreach. Havey asked Jenkins to remind members to report outreach prior to the monthly committee meetings. Coston stated that if issues are pushed back by joint committee, don’t feel that the joint committee is picking on them. The issues must make it through the quality review level. During chair training, the members were allowed to do the teaching. Coston informed the committee that Olson may hold the town hall in NH, or VT. Havey mentioned that Stamford, CT would also be a good location to hold the meeting

Subcommittee Report-Out/New Issue

• Subcommittee 1

Epstein discussed the TE/GE Hotline (877)829-5500 as being non responsive. The subcommittee has been testing this number. The 800 number is for those applying for 501C3 status. Previously, when you called, you would receive a message stating they were busy and you must call back. Now when you call, you may get through but it takes some time for someone to pick up. The subcommittee will continue to test the hotline.

Barry discussed a situation with a taxpayer who worked two jobs starting in the middle of the year. Up until the 3rd quarter of the year, her employer took out social security tax based on her salary. Her second employer also took out social security tax based on her new salary. The employers did not talk to each other and the employee over withheld on social security tax. The IRS calculated this and sent her a letter stating she withheld too much money and she would receive a refund. However the correspondence from the IRS was not clear as to why she would receive this check. There was no statement saying that the interest that was earned was taxable. This information was sent out in a pre-read. Havey asked that the committee vote to move this issue forward. Fallacaro states where it says benefits and barriers, it should state it will reduce call volume. Ramirez states that somewhere on the notice it should state that this should be reported as interest income. If anyone has any changes, they should forward them to Jenkins. When the revised version is completed, Jenkins will send this out to the entire committee.  Committee approved by consensus.

• Subcommittee 2

Zgoda discussed the Schedule D proposal that was sent back to the committee to revise. Knispel will revise the proposal and share it with the committee. From 8453 was submitted to Toy for presentation but did not make it in time for the JC meeting. This will be presented at the JC meeting on February 7th. The online payment issue was reviewed by the JC and Hom was asked to revise his submission because the last version was not clear. Hom will review the proposal at the next subcommittee call and hopefully move this proposal forward. Jason discussed the IRA issue with people over 70 ½ who need to take required minimum distributions out of the IRAs or 401k’s. At times, the taxpayers miss this distribution which causes a 50% penalty. Gadon states that the VITA committee eliminated the self select pin and 8453. Knispel will get someone from the IRS to join in on the call to discuss this issue with the members.

Outreach Report-out by Members
Gadon – reminds members to get in touch with your LTA to support with outreach, did outreach at a center for Autistic children and handed out TAP business cards at an AARP meeting. Gadon is on the list with IRS Public Relations and was invited to IRS Practitioner meeting as a TAP member.  

Havey – met with 35 people and discussed TAP

Margulies and Hom – will attend a congressional meeting in Boston in March to do outreach

Issue Committee Update
Burden Reduction Committee – Barry - N/A

EITC Committee – Chen - the group is setting up sub-committees to see how preparers like the new website. A tech group will form moderator guides.

Notices Committee - Colombo – if the Area 1 committee needs support, the VITA committee will help

Vita Committee – Gadon and Epstein worked on some of the manuals for the committee.

Ad Hoc Committee – face to face meeting will be in June

TAC Committee – Zgoda – the committee is working on a customer survey.

Communications – N/A

DFO Report
Fallacaro informed the committee that the Boston office is having the congressional meeting and TAP members will attend. As events come up, Fallacaro will send Jenkins an email to send to all members. Fallacaro will be in DC for a meeting on the hill to discuss the Annual Report to Congress.

Other Comments/Questions
Jason is having a problem getting on TAP Space.  Jenkins will to work with subcommittee 1 and Knispel will work with subcommittee 2 to help navigate TAP Space.  Ramirez informed members that they are know able to go on to TAP Space. Jenkins informed the committee that all agendas will come via TAP Space.

All travel vouchers have been processed from the Annual Meeting.

Sharen Greene is the new LTA for Albany. Jenkins will forward the committee her contact information.

Office Report
Knispel informed the committee that a National News Release will go out introducing new members. Knispel will share the Press Release with the members.

Public Participation
N/A