Area 2 Committee Meeting Minutes

Date: May 24, 2005
Via: Teleconference

Acting Designated Federal Official

• Barbara J. Brockington, Supervisory Associate Advocate, Philadelphia, PA

Committee Members Present

• Bill Bly, Wayne, PA
• Paul Brubaker, York, PA, Co-Vice-Chair
• Anthony DiMartino, Toms River, NJ, Chair
• Christine Hurley, Lorton, VA
• Sonny Kasturi, West Orange, NJ
• Robert Maziarz, Hainesport, NJ
• Patrick McCombie, Wilmington, DE
• Paul McElroy, Winston-Salem, NC, Co-Vice-Chair
• Theodore Perros, Washington, DC
• Martin Romeril, Bethlehem, PA
• Steve Rue, Mechanicsville, VA
• Lynwood Sinnamon, Arlington, VA
• Agnes Tillerson, Erie, PA
• Faith Vinikoor, Baltimore, MD
• Elizabeth Warnecki, Ladson, SC

Committee Members Absent

• David Cain, Marlinton, WV
• C. Morgan Edwards, Charlotte, NC
• Steve Kreisler, Potomac, MD
• Lillian “Beadsie” Woo, Durham, NC

TAP Staff

• Inez E. De Jesus, TAP Program Analyst, Note Taker

Welcome
Chair Tony DiMartino opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

An announcement was made that Barbara J. Brockington will be the acting DFO on behalf of Terry L. Mapp during today’s call.

Roll Call
15 members were present- the quorum of 11 was met.

Review Agenda
The committee agreed on the proposed agenda.

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
The April 19, 2005 meeting minutes were approved by consensus.

Chair Report
Chair DiMartino shared that he had sent an email out to all on May 23rd with the notes taken at the Joint Committee’s face-to-face meeting in Chicago, Illinois on May 13th and 14th. The following highlights the issues discussed by the chair during this call:

• The interviews for new members will be taking place by phone during the week of June 13th and June 20th. Are there any Area 2 members interested in participating? If so, let Inez know by no later than May 31st.
• Are there any Area 2 members interested in working with VITA Issues? At this time, specifics are not known, but as soon as the chair becomes aware of them he will communicate them with all.
• Issue #1309, Simplify Form 1041 Instructions-U.S. Income Tax Returns for Estates and Trusts, previously elevated on September 23, 2004 has been returned for simplification.
• The 2005 IRS Tax Forums have been announced and Sonny Kasturi has volunteered to participate with the one in New York City, August 9-11, 2005. Budget is a primary consideration this year. There may be other invitations extended based on those who live near the particular tax forum.
• Bill Bly was congratulated for his work with the elevated recommendation on “Change Form 1065 Schedule D” which was accepted by the Joint Committee.
• Steve Rue was also congratulated for his work with providing to the IRS “Suggestions to Form 2553.”
• Chair stated that he was proud that area 2’s recommendations were accepted since many were not.
• Chair turned the remainder of this portion of the meeting to Co-Vice-Chair Brubaker for an update on their meeting with the IRS Commissioner on May 20, 2005.
• Brubaker began by sharing that he, Tony DiMartino, TAP Chair Gwen Handelman, and Elizabeth Brodbine Ghoniem were selected to meet with Commissioner Everson since they all provided input to the letter that was written to him regarding the closing of Taxpayer Assistance Centers. (TAC’s). Briefly Brubaker shared that budget was the biggest concern. He referenced the GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office) Report 05-707T, issued on May 19, 2005, “IRS Modernization, Continued Progress Requires Addressing Resource Management Challenges”. (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05707t.pdf) which indicates which major improvements have been made with services. Commissioner Everson was open for future meetings with the TAP on issues related to the TAP mission of “improving the IRS”.
• Update on Issue # 3239 — Provide Tax Forms to All - Chair DiMartino shared that this is currently being worked with Area 3. Area 2 had dropped this issue earlier this year. The following area 2 members will be providing input to area 3: Brubaker, Cain, Sinnamon, Tillerson, Vinikoor and Woo. Brubaker will be reporting back to Area 2 at each monthly teleconference.
• Senior Tax Act Letter to Joint Committee- Re: Issue #3234, Seniors Problems - DiMartino shared that during the Joint Committee’s face-to-face meeting, he hand delivered to the TAP Chair, the 1040S letter which requests that this committee be able to provide input into the form creation process of this soon to be new form within the IRS.
• Chair DiMartino also shared that the Joint Committee expressed that all committees should be addressing 3-5 issues at a time and place them in priority order.

Review Assignments
Analyst De Jesus confirmed that Issue #3420, Self-Employed Payment Procedures, was dropped and a closing letter was sent to the Citizen from Pennsylvania on Aprill 27, 2005. All other action items are agenda items for today’s call.

Agenda Items
Update on Issue # 3295- Add Limited Liability Option to Form SS-4
Kasturi shared his reasoning behind requesting a subject matter expert (SME) to clarify some of his concerns so that when the committee elevates a recommendation to the IRS it will be a quality product. The staff is currently in the process of obtaining a SME.

Sub-committee chairs reports:
Issue #3228 - Efiling Alternates
Cain was not available during today’s call; Inez shared with all that since the committee had decided to monitor this issue, it has been placed in “Parking Lot” status for now. There were no objections.

Issue #3234 - Seniors Problems
Lyn Sinnamon reported that Publication 554, Older Americans Tax Guide, is currently being reviewed by the subcommittee and he is waiting a couple of more weeks before he receives responses from everyone. They are also looking at the difference between the 2 types of IRA’s and will try to have a recommendation ready by the August deadline for changes for forms and publications. Issue # 3456 - Education Program on IRA’s, will be incorporated with this general issue, whereby Pub 554 will have information on how to move Standard IRA money to a Roth IRA and the tax implications of doing so. This is an active issue.

Issue #3391 - IRS Take Home Pay Web Calculator
Kreisler was not available to provide an update on this issue. It will be placed in the “Parking lot status” for now.

Issue # 3475 - IRS Confirmation on Efiling
Kasturi explained his reasoning for requesting a subject matter expert for this issue. The staff is currently addressing this matter. Brubaker shared that this was discussed with Commissioner Everson that no receipt is being provided to the taxpayer.
Kasturi also expressed that there is a need to get this information out to other areas requesting input from their respective AARP’s. (sharing of resources) Networking with other TAP Area committees.

Issue # 3238 - Usability of Website
Hurley had no updates; this issue will be placed in “Parking Lot status” for now.

Issue #2389 - Simplify Communications to Taxpayers
Perros requested assistance in addressing Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. A new sub-committee was formed which is composed of: Perros, Bly, Kasturi, and Tillerson.
Decision:
The new sub-committee will be reviewing Publication 519, specifically the first 5 pages and report back to the entire committee by the next meeting. It was suggested that the entire body read the entire publication. The goal will be to submit 5 to 6 samples to the IRS of how very complex this publication is and to avoid jargon.

Review New Issue # 3516, Notice of Intent to Levy (Regulated by Statute)
Analyst De Jesus shared that this issue had been received by the TAP Chair based on a meeting she had attended, The National Public Liaison Meeting, whereby TAP was given several issues to review. The Notice of Intent to Levy is regulated by Statute and therefore cannot be worked by the TAP. It is being shared as information only. Also, the TAP Notices Issue Committee is currently reviewing the 500 series of this notice. This issue will be placed in “dropped/closed status”.

Outreach
Chair DiMartino shared that the area 2 had a high ratio on outreach activities. Kudos were given to Lyn Sinnamon for all of his efforts, great job! DiMartino reminded everyone to submit their reports directly to Inez on a timely basis. Keep up the good work!!

Office Report
None

Action/Assignment Review:

Chair

• Obtain clarification on what is meant by working VITA issues.
• Prioritize current issues being worked by this committee.

Committee Members

• If you are interested in participating with the interview process, please let Inez know by no later than May 31, 2005.
• If you are interested in participating with VITA issues, please let Inez know by no later than May 31, 2005.
• Review Issue #1309- Simplify Form 1041 Instructions- decide the next steps that will be taken.
• Fill out the Meeting Satisfaction Survey for today’s call.
• Issue #3475- IRS Confirmation of Efiling- Kasturi will be sending out an email to all TAP Members requesting their assistance with this issue.
• Submit your Outreach Activities Report directly to Inez on a timely fashion.

Analyst

• Consolidate all responses received from the members by May 31st and submit these to the chair. (Interviews & Vita Issues)
• Continue to obtain a Subject Matter Expert for Issue # 3295- Add Limited Liability (LLC) Option to Form SS-4 which is led by Sonny Kasturi.
• Continue to obtain a Subject Matter Expert for Issue # 3475- IRS Confirmation of Efiling.
• Inez will ensure that an order for Publication 519 be placed for those members who were not able to order a publication directly.

Manager
None

Public Input
None

Closing/Assessment

• Christine Hurley shared that the Communication Issue Committee is currently working on getting a survey out to all members on how are they doing Outreach? What are some of the successful things that are being done for those who have not done any outreach and why not. They are trying to find out what is good and how it can be improved. This survey should be out by July 2005. Lynwood Sinnamon is the chair of this subcommittee.
• This led to a discussion on the importance of using TAPSpeak. McElroy stated he would like to provide some feedback.
• DiMartino shared that Kasturi has some new issues that will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
• Chair DiMartino adjourned meeting and thanked everyone for their good work and hard efforts, and reminded Co-Vice-Chair Paul McElroy that he would be chairing the next meeting.
• The next teleconference meeting is scheduled for June 21, 2005 at 1:30 PM ET (90 minutes)
• Analyst De Jesus will be posting the Meeting Satisfaction Survey on TAP Speak.

*These minutes were approved by the TAP Area 2 Committee on June 21, 2005.