Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)
Area 2 Committee
Meeting Minutes

Committee’s Teleconference Meeting
March 21, 2007 @ 2:30 PM ET

Designated Federal Official (DFO)
Frances W. Kleckley, Local Taxpayer Advocate, Columbia, SC

Members Present
Bill Bly, Wayne, PA
Paul Brubaker, York, PA,
Kimberly Brown, Blakeslee, PA, Vice-Chair
Ben Chapman, Wayne, NJ
JoAnn Davis, Scott Depot, WV
Blanche Davis, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Steven Fulkrod, Bel Air, MD
Robert Haines, Lebanon, NJ
Sonny Kasturi, West Orange, NJ
Paul McElroy, Pfafftown, NC
Lyn Sinnamon, Arlington, VA, Chair
Elizabeth Warnecki, Ladson, SC
William Yaeger, Alexandra, VA

Members Absent
Michael Bryant, Oakton, VA
Emilio Cecchi, N. Bethesda, MD
Lee Congdon, Washington, DC
Judy Lester, Chapel Hill
Carolyn Hutchinson, Fletcher, NC

Staff Present
Nancy Ferree,      TAP Program Manager
Inez E. De Jesus, TAP Program Analyst
Isai Pallango,       TAP Staff & Note taker

Welcome and Roll Call
Chair Lyn Sinnamon opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and asked TAP staff Isai Pallango to take roll.

Quorum was met.

Joint Committee Report / Information from Chair Training
Chair Lyn Sinnamon stated that as of March 7, 2007 TAP budget has been approved. Tax forum and face to face meetings will proceed as plan. It was also stated that National State Town Hall meeting in Omaha will be held on March 22, 2007 and Phoenix Town Hall and Face-to-Face meeting on March 29, 2007.

TAP Staff announcements; Steve Berkey will be acting manager of Milwaukee for a period of 30 days and Plantation Florida TAP Manager Nancy Ferree was selected as a  member of newly created TAS-EEO (Diversity Board).

It was also stated that TAP Recruitment will be open from March 19, 2007 and end on April 30, 2007. Chair asked all panel members to help in the process of selecting new members. Current panel members were asked to respond by email if they wish not to continue serving TAP membership beyond 2007.

TAP Manager Nancy Ferree shared her enthusiasm of the newly created TAS-EEO. The nation wide committee will focus of diversity and equal employment opportunity. Ferree will be working with members and segments of all populations.

Review / Confirm Meeting Minutes: February 21, 2007
These minutes were approved by consensus by all panel members.

New Issue(s)

Issue 4071- Form 8913 Citizen Unable to Obtain Answers
Recommendation was to drop issue. Panel members agreed by consensus to drop this issue.

Issue 4061-Form W-4: Make Easier to Understand for Minors
Panel member Steve Fulkrod recommended issue made active. Panel members Elizabeth Warnecki and Bob Haines will serve on this subcommittee.

Issue 4105-Modify Instructions on 1040 SCH. D Asset Sales
Panel member Steven Fulkrod stated that the screening committee met and recommends that this issue be active, but placed in parking lot with monitoring mode.

Issue 4093-IRS Tax Forms Distribution Policy
Recommendation was to drop issue. Panel members agreed by consensus to drop this issue.

Issue 4086-Form SS-4 Processing
Recommendation was to drop issue. Panel members agreed by consensus to drop this issue.

Report on TAC Visits by Area 2 Committee Members
Panel members Blanche Davis and Kim Brown shared their visits with local TAC office. Panel member Davis stated experience was negative help from TAC office employee/manager. Panel member Kim Brown shared her second TAC office visit and completions of surveys. Her experience was positive.

Panel member Paul Brubaker shared his positive experience within his local TAC office.

Status on Elevated Issue 3743- Revise Form W-9
This proposal has been elevated to the Joint Committee; and Chair Sinnamon invited Bob Haines to attend the next JC meeting on April 4, 2007 at 1pm to address any questions that may arise.

Subcommittee Reports on Active Issues:

• Issue 3946- Filing of Charitable Remainder Trusts

Panel members Robert Haines and Elizabeth Warnecki serve on this subcommittee. Subcommittee is still waiting for report from the IRS. All panel member agreed by consensus.

• Issue 3997-Terminate “S” Election

Panel members Robert Haines and Elizabeth Warnecki serve on this    subcommittee. Subcommittee is working this issue. Information will be shared during next month teleconference meeting. All panel member agreed by consensus

• Issue 4011-Form 8863 Education Credits

Panel member Warnecki submitted draft to subcommittee and received positive feedback. Warnecki will continue to work on this issue and submit for quality review. All panel members agreed by consensus.

Draft Proposal 3944- Instructions Class Action Proceeds: Update
Panel member Sonny Kasturi stated he will continue working on this issue after tax season and remain in active status. All panel members agreed by consensus.

Outreach Events & Commitment Reports
Panel member Kimberly Brown stated that 21 outreach events were recorded for the month of February. Brown stated that she would like more panel member involvement in the future.

Q&A Upcoming Face-To-Face Meeting Agendas Ideas
Panel member Sonny Kasturi suggested a report / update of issues sent to Joint Committee within the Internal Revenue Service. Robert Haines suggested proper TAPSpace usage technique. Panel members should contact Ferree and De Jesus if questions or comments.

Public Input
No public input

Closing Assessments- Q & A Meeting Survey
Chair Sinnamon requested comments and suggestions be directed to De Jesus.

TAP Manager Nancy Ferree asked the committee to fill out the meeting survey.

Chair adjourned the meeting.

Next  Meeting: Face to Face in Raleigh, NC- April 25-27, 2007

*Certification of Meeting Minutes:  These minutes were approved by the TAP Area 2 Committee, by consensus on April 25, 2007.