Area 2 Committee Meeting Minutes

March 2, 2004
3:00 PM- 4:30 PM EST

Roll call was taken by TAP Program Analyst Inez E. De Jesus
Quorum=9; quorum was met, 11 members and the Designated Federal Official (DFO) were present on this call.

Designated Federal Official (DFO)

• Terry L. Mapp

Panel Members Present

• Mary Balmer, Vice-Chair, NC
• Richard (Dick) Bobb, NC
• Anthony DiMartino, NJ
• C.Morgan Edwards, NC
• Jerry Gensiejewski, Jr., PA
• Robert Maziarz, NJ
• David L. Meyer, Chair, NJ
• Manning H. Mosley III, PA
• Robert Taylor, PA
• Leonard Steinberg, NJ
• Faith Vinikoor, MD

Members Not Present

• Calvin Johnson, VA
• Karen Kerrigan, VA
• Patrick McCombie, DE
• Theodore Perros, D.C.

TAP Staff

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

Welcome/Announcements
Chair David Meyer opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and by informing the committee of the following issues discussed during the last Joint Committee meeting he attended:

• Area 2's “EFTPS-Clarification of Tax Year” was approved and will be forwarded to the appropriate operating division.

• Area 2's “Taxpayer's Feedback Option on Toll-Free Line” was also approved and will be forwarded to the appropriate operating division.

• Area 2's “W-4 Percentage” recommendation has been returned to the committee for expansion. Meyer explained that questions arose during the Joint Committee meeting which resulted in him looking at the regulations again and thus re-drafting the proposal to incorporate that it will not take a regulation change under Section 7802 of the IRS Code. This led to questions and answers among the panel members and followed by a motion to approve as amended. Chair will be returning the amended proposal back to the Joint Committee.

• Issue regarding those members who have expressed a desire to remain for an additional year: letters have gone out from the TAP National Office staff and Meyer has requested from the committee that if anyone has had a change of mind to please let him know, as soon as possible, either by email or by telephone so that he can relate this back to the TAP Director.

• An additional face-to-face meeting issue: TAP Director Bernie Coston shared with all the committee chairs that there was additional funding available for an additional face-to-face meeting. At first, the area committees were given first choice but by the end of discussion, it was decided that it would be allowed to those committees (area or issue) where there was a “greater need”. Chair explained that a decision had to be made right then and there and he expressed that there was no need for Area 2 to have a second face-to-face meeting.

Review/Approve Minutes from Meeting on February 3, 2004
These minutes were “approved as amended”; Faith Vinikoor noted that on page 3, bullet #2, Leonard Steinberg's comment was not annotated correctly. Steinberg agreed and noted that is should read as follows:

“Steinberg suggested that a 1041X Amended Form, showing both columns, should be developed similar to the 1040X Amended Return Form.”

Analyst is to make this change and finalize the minutes as per consensus of the committee.

Action Items from Prior Meeting
Analyst confirmed that the following “action items” were addressed as noted:

• Dick Bobb expressed that he has not received any callbacks from his Local Taxpayer Advocate, and that he will renew his efforts to make a contact.

• Maziarz made the corrections to the W-4 draft proposal.

• Analyst De Jesus submitted copy of the “Elevated Telephone Issue” to Chair Meyer.

• A template with the committee's new subcommittees and volunteers for each was mailed out to all on February 25, 2004.

• TAP Program Manager Nancy Ferree shared that the sub-committee that is interested in beginning a dialogue with the IRS on the processing and background behind “informational bulletins” met on March 1, 2004 . As a result of this meeting, Nancy is in the process of coordinating a meeting with the sub-committee and a Subject-Matter-Expert (SME). Tentatively she is aiming for the dates the sub-committee has requested, either March 9th or March 10th at 3:00 PM ET . Nancy requested that any questions the sub-committee may have may be sent to her after this call. Action item for Program Manager Ferree.

• Issue #2590, “Processing of Notices of Deficiencies”, closing letter was composed by Chair and issue was closed on February 23, 2004.

• Issue #2115, “Suggestion to Improve 1040 NR Instructions”, closing letter was composed by Chair and issue was closed on February 9, 2004.

Status Reports from Sub-committee Chairs
Sub-committee chairs were not available on this call in reference to the 1041 and “Informational Bulletins” issues.

Vinikoor shared that since she will not be available on the next teleconference, she has shared the questions she has regarding electronic 1041's with DiMartino for the Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the Form 1041, United States Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts.

Vinikoor wants to know what barriers does the SME see regarding 1041 e-filing and Steinberg addressed her other question, and confirmed that the current package available is for professionals only.

Vinikoor also shared that she has prepared and shared with the sub-committee a draft “Simplified 1041” proposal.

Analyst shared that she has recently spoken to the SME and he plans on participating with the entire committee on the next call.

Formation of New Sub-committees- 2004

1. Reduce “Processing Time of Offer-in-Compromise (OICs)”
2. Review OIC's criteria's
3. Research “Efiling” Alternatives
4. “Interactive Forms”-Review Proposal to Provide Free Tax Preparation Software
5. “Plain Language Publications”

Chair Meyer thanked those who had volunteered to participate on these new sub-committees. He shared that he is in the process of coordinating some information, specifically concerning OIC's and will be sharing this information soon with all concerned.

Mosley III requested that his name be added to the “Review OIC's criterias”.

Bobb suggested that #3 and #4 be combined.

Review of New Issues
Analyst confirmed that there were no new issues received this past month.

Outreach Efforts
Chair shared that Theodore Perros had participated during the month of February 2004 on an outreach event but unfortunately he was not available to discuss his experiences with the committee at this time.

Steinberg shared his idea of perhaps creating a way of informing the public in the Mid-Atlantic States of the Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT). He feels that it is very important to let people know since many will be affected by this. This led to a discussion among the members resulting in agreement that this issue has a high visibility these days and it is getting lots of coverage already.

Vinikoor reminded everyone of the website Balmer had shared earlier with the committee that had a lot of information regarding AMT. (http://www.reformamt.org)

Maziarz shared that he recently saw on television, Nina E. Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, addressing the AMT, and she was doing so as a private citizen.

Chair Meyer reminded everyone that if they feel strongly about the AMT, to contact their local Senators and House of Representatives, but as a panel, we couldn't address this legislative issue. Bobb expressed that he is currently doing this. Chair also mentioned that this is the only way to get their attention up on the Hill.

Mention was made that many congressional websites have ready-made letters and also the opportunity to make a donation if you wish.

Dick Bobb shared that this coming Thursday, March 4, 2004, he is scheduled for a radio interview where he will have the opportunity to spread the word about TAP's existence and mission. The committee expressed their enthusiasm about this opportunity.

Administrative News from the DFO
DFO Mapp deferred this portion of the meeting to Analyst De Jesus. Analyst shared that she is getting ready to make plans for the committee's face-to-face meeting in Washington, D.C., on June 11 & June 12, 2004 , and would like to hear from anyone who did not think they would be able to attend.

Program Manager Nancy Ferree explained that in order to obtain the hotel's conference room for the meeting on a complimentary basis, a commitment of a certain number of lodging rooms is expected by the hotel.

TAP Program Manager Ferree thanked everyone for their recent kind expression of sympathy.

Public Input/Closing Assessment
No public input.

Chair Confirmed Next Meeting: April 6, 2004, 3:00 PM ET
Chair adjourned meeting.