Area 3 Committee Meeting Minutes
March 20, 2007

Members in Attendance
J T Wright
Bill Matheny
Henry Mosler
Mary Armstrong
Dale Cooper
Daryll Cordeiro
Byron Edwards
Patrice Marker
Al Rodriguez
Chuck Tice
Donna Tremblay

Members Absent
Max Scott
Mark Paris

DFO present
Carolyn Lewis

Staff in Attendance
Sallie Chavez, TAP Program Analyst
Bernie Coston, TAP Director
Nancy Ferree, TAP Manager
Anita Fields, Secretary

Welcome
Committee Chair Henry Mosler opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.  He asked Anita to take Roll.

Roll Call
Quorum of eight (8) was met. 

Introductions of Guests
There were no guests present.

Review of Previous Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes were approved as written

Review of Joint Committee Call
Committee Chair Hank Mosler wanted to have vision statement included in minutes.  What we trying to do is find a simple straight forward statement for what we would like to accomplish what our vision is and we can put this forward when we are trying to introduce our organization.  The joint committee supported it.

Bernie stated that we will do more marketing with our vision statement via communications, which are coming out with different outreach opportunities.   

VISION STATEMENT—TAP is an independent panel of citizen volunteers who listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayers’ issues, and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction.
 
Hank stated that the communications committee has put forward a communications document making recommendations and a timeline on things that the area committee and  issues committees can do and recommendations on outreach which is a blue print for items the panel can use to get our focus on.  Document is on TAP Speak for everyone to view.

Hank stated that there is going to be upcoming training on reports and the ability to track issues.  Training is scheduled for March 28, 2007 and April 11, 2007 @1pm EST.  Same thing taught, just two separate days.  If anyone would like to participate, please contact Barbara Toy or Sallie Chavez.

Bernie Coston reminded everyone that recruitment started 19 March and the application is up and running.  He will also be sending out marketing material as it relates to recruitment, which the panel can utilize on their own to go out and actively engage anyone that might be interested.  He also wanted to put out that their will be a national Press Release that pertains to recruitment.

BIO’S ON TAPSPACE
Chair went around to everyone on call to ensure that everyone had bio on and there were no issues.  Everyone has a bio on TAPSpace.

Subcommittee Report
Patrice Marker gave report on Issue 3671.  She re-wrote issue 3671 and emailed to everyone on the subcommittee with only minor feedback.  She is still waiting to see if anyone from the IRS will like to comment. 

Hank suggested that Patrice send out the latest version to all panel members and asked that they comment on the issue. 

Carolyn requested copy so that she can refer it to the filing coordinator for some feedback. 

Hank reconfirmed everyone that is on this subcommittee as Mary Armstrong, Byron Edwards, Al Rodriguez, Donna Tremblay, and Mark Paris. 

Bill Matheny issue 3921 (check box authority)- Last discussion was that a conference call will be set-up with the author of the IRS rejection letter.  Sallie will set up conference call as soon as possible.

Other issues are TAC related issues.  The issues that the subcommittee has come up with falls into three categories:  Long wait time to make a payment, lack of staffing and the forms related issues.  They are going to make three separate recommendations with three teams working on the recommendations.  He will try to report something back to the committee by 12 April.

Bill expressed if it will be feasible to send some of the comments to Estelle Tunley’s office, he thinks that it might be worthwhile.

Bill stated that if it is possible he would like to sit in on some of the conferences that occur between TIGTA auditors, J.T. Wright and Bernie Coston to specifically talk about customer service in the TAC center.

Nancy stated that all of TIGTA audit reports are on their website for the public to view @ www.TIGTA.gov.

Form 656 (Offer and Compromise)

Donna Tremblay started by saying there were approximately four recommendations made by the committee on the revision of Form 656. 

• To inform taxpayers how the IRS determines whether they adopt collectability. The form will be rejected if it can be paid under the 10-year stature under the installment agreement. 
• Use worksheet so that the IRS can determine if you can pay within the 10 stature. 
• That the form instructs taxpayers to contact the IRS to get their national standards for allowable living expenses. 
• Remove a paragraph from the form that has nothing to do with Offer and Comprise.

Donna stated that overall the IRS did take into account all of the recommendations.

Patrice added that this is a success story for TAP. 

Panel members discussed Form 656 briefly after Donna’s presentation.  Chair Hank Mosley moved to declare Form 656 a success and to move on to Form 3671 and some of the TAC related issues.  All agreed.

Outreach
None reported

Contact with Local Taxpayer Advocate
Patrice wrote her local advocate a letter and received one back 19 Mar.  She attempted to call after receiving the letter and only been able to leave message.  Chuck has made two phone call attempts and one email attempt with no response.

Nancy Ferree speaking for Max Scott stated Max has been in contact with Mary Krobert who represented Carolyn at our meeting and they are going to the Congressional Office

Citizen Input
No citizens present.

Meeting Close
Hank asked Sallie to email out meeting review forms to see how the meeting went.