May 6, 2003
3:00 PM - 4:30PM EST

Participants (Committee Members)

• Mary Balmer, Chairperson
• Richard Bobb
• Anthony DiMartino
• C. Morgan Edwards
• Jerry Gensiejewski Jr.
• Karen Kerrigan
• Manning H. Mosley III
• Patrick McCombie
• David L. Meyer, Vice-Chairperson
• Theodore Perros
• Lou Romito, Designated Federal Official (DFO)
• Leonard Steinberg
• Robert Taylor

Staff Members

• Inez E. De Jesus, Program Analyst/Recorder
• Nancy L. Ferree, Program Manager

Members Not Present

• Calvin Johnson- (Military)
• Robert Maziarz (EITC Issue Committee)
• George Pruchniewski
• Doreen Scott
• Faith Vinikoor (EITC Issue Committee)

Welcome/Announcements/Roll Call

Meeting began by the taking of the Roll call by the Recorder and quorum was met.

Quorum: 10 (13 members participated)

Chair Mary Balmer welcomed all and shared that due to illness she was not able to attend the Joint Committee Face-to-Face Meeting in DC. Panel member Steinberg & Vice-Chair Meyer represented the Area 2 committee instead.

Committee member Steinberg shared the events of the Joint Committee Meeting:

1. National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Nina E. Olson addressed TAP's involvement in legislative issues and shared that the TAP Charter does not permit it. However, aspects of a legislative issue that involves administrative or procedural issues would be appropriate for the program.
2. However, any taxpayer can approach the NTA about legislative issues and she can choose to listen and use the input as anecdotal information.
3. IRS will not address the licensing of non-professional preparers. (This is an Ad Hoc Committee Issue)
4. TAP approved reconfirmation of the chairs and vice-chairs of all the committees.
5. TAP considered keeping 1/3 of the current panelists for a third year term for historic continuity.
6. TAP considered the issue of how a panelist would commit the workload between area and issue committees.
7. The Director of Systemic Advocacy, Arlene Kay, made a presentation.
8. TAP Area 4 (Mid-States) Committee covered the issue of electronic maintenance of tax returns. (A paid preparer be allowed to keep an electronic copy of a taxpayer's tax return rather than a hard copy.)
9. TAP will be involved in the review of the Free-File concept.
10. There was a discussion of the efforts to educate all taxpayers in financial literacy.
11. There was discussion about having the next national TAP meeting in Las Vegas to coincide with the National Tax Forum scheduled there in September.
12. An overview of the "TAP Speak" Forum, a means to facilitate communication between TAP staff and members is forthcoming. Panel members will be receiving information soon on this new program.
13. Due to budgetary concerns, at this time, it is not certain if a National TAP Conference will be held in October as previously intended. If it does take place, it will be a 3-day meeting; one day for National, one day for Area, and one day for Issue Committee(s). (Other locations rather than DC are also being considered.)

Vice-Chair Meyer presented the report on Area 2 Issues to the Joint Committee on May 3, 2003.

Review/Approve Minutes of April 1, 2003
Minutes were reviewed and accepted.

Update on Next Face-to-Face Meeting- June 20/21, 2003 (Philadelphia vs. Baltimore)
A roll call vote on the location of the next face-to-face meeting was conducted, Philadelphia vs. Baltimore. Philadelphia received a majority of the votes.

Action item for TAP Staff: Analyst De Jesus will commence making arrangements and will keep committee informed.

Objectives for the face-to-face meeting:
There was a discussion of what is to be accomplished at this meeting.

Chair Balmer requested that any suggestions for the agenda should be sent to her as soon as possible so that IRS Subject Matter Experts may be obtained.

The Chair envisions that the committee be able to move forward with recommendation(s) to the Joint Committee based on the issues received so far. This is why the prioritization of issues to be elevated is very important.

Subject Matter Expert
TAP Program Manager Ferree will make arrangements to obtain a Subject Matter Expert on the IRS Telephone system and any other issues the committee may decide on.

Update on 2003 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum-Committee Participation
There was a discussion about who will attend the Atlantic City National Tax Forum in July.

Panel member Mosley III mentioned that he had indicated an interest in attending this forum a while ago.

Prioritize the Top 3 Issues that need to be worked to Completion & Elevated to the Joint Committee

There was a discussion about what issues we should concentrate on, in order to forward for the national report.

The committee agreed on prioritizing of issues to be elevated as follows:

1. IRS Telephone System (inaccurate information provided)
2. EFTPS-Electronic Funds Transfer Program System (easy resolution: fix phone prompts and be consistent/clarify tax year)

Direct Debit Installment Agreement Issue- that taxpayer is sent monthly statements of account- this issue will be kept active.

Committee agreed that they must be focused on "how many taxpayers are affected". If an issue affects many taxpayers, then those are the ones that need to be prioritized and forwarded.

Issue on Form 1041, and related instructions, recommend improvements to examples and instructions is an issue that the committee will continue to work on. (Tabled for next meeting's discussion)

Public Participant
None

Closing Assessment
The committee felt that as advocates of the taxpayer, they have an obligation to report up to the National Taxpayer Advocate on those legislative issues that come into the committee from all TAP outreach activities. However, they agreed to take it upon themselves to report back to the National Taxpayer Advocate on those legislative issues, but would do so on an individual rather than as a committee member.

The committee agreed to carry over all issues on the agenda that were not covered during this meeting to the next meeting.

Committee agreed to cancel the June 3rd teleconference meeting previously scheduled.

Next Meeting: Face-to-Face- June 20/21, 2003 in Philadelphia (Center City), detailed information will be forthcoming.

Action Item: Analyst will revise Meeting Schedule and inform all concerned of the new meeting dates.

Meeting ended timely.