Area 3 Committee Meeting Minutes
June 19, 2007

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

DFO present
Carolyn Lewis

Staff in Attendance
Sallie Chavez, TAP Program Analyst
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. All members are in attendance.

Introductions of Guests
There were no guests present.

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

Review of ratings from last Area 3 Call
Chair Hank Mosler stated that there was a 100% participation in the meeting survey and asked that all members continue to complete the surveys.  He also wants to get more participation from members.

Review of Joint Committee Call
Committee Chair Hank Mosler stated that the Joint Committee call spent the front end of the call discussing the Schedule F (Can Farmers claim business use of their homes like in Schedule C & D).  The answer is yes.

Area 3 had three issues that were discussed: Forms and Publications, IRA Minimum Distribution and Excess Social Security.  Forms and Pubs issue was not approved but was sent back to try to see how the committee could address the issue.  IRA Minimum Distribution was determined not to have adequate information.

J.T. Wright added that they spent a fair majority of time putting together an effective agenda for the joint face to face.

Hank Mosler would like to receive feedback on his mid year assessment of Area 3.

Max Scott will be representing Area 3 at the Joint Committee since Hank will be on vacation.

Chuck Tice just wanted to add that the post office is not allowed to post any number except for the number to the IRS. 

Update on Recruiting
Sallie Chavez reported that she has only one more interview to schedule, not sure, if it will happen because she has not been able to get in contact with individual.  She also thanked everyone for volunteering to help during the interview process.  Area 3 only has four vacancies (2 in GA, 1 PR, and 1 MS).

Hank Mosler suggests that once we get the new members identified, we invite them to participate as visitors on the monthly calls, so that they can hit the ground running at the annual meeting.  He asked J.T. Wright to take that to the Joint Committee Face to Face next week.  J. T. agreed.

Review of New Issue—Issue #4218 Recalculation of the Estimated Payment

Patrice Marker-stated that she jumped the gun on this issue.  SAMS are already working this issue.  Issue is in parking lot waiting on feedback from SAMS.
 
Subcommittee Report
Patrice Marker gave report on Issue 3671 (SSN not matching Name on e-filed returns).  She wants someone else to look at this as she made changes.  Want to change short description.  Al Rodriguez, Patrice Marker and anyone else are welcomed to stay on after the call to talk about the issue.

This issue is close to being elevated.  This issue will be discussed and elevated to the joint committee next month.

Bill Matheny gave report on Issue 3910 (Delay in TAC service) ----completed conference call last month with subcommittee and Estelle Tunley Chief of Field Services Branch (Wage and Investments).  Subcommittee wanted to know how they could get these issues/complaints to someone directly to look at and investigate allegation.  Estelle stated that she would appoint someone in her office to be a point of contact for the TAC service issues/complaints. 

Decision has been made to set up a procedure whereas these issues, as they come in, will be sent directly to Michelle Jones (staff analysis for Estelle Tunley).

Sallie Chavez is going to handle the issues that come in and inform the other TAP staff members.  Sallie will put together a cover sheet for staff to use as calls come in.

Bill Matheny feels that we should talk to the Subject Matter Expert (SME) before we elevated issues, because we have had a good success story.

Not elevate the issue just report to Joint Committee as a success story.

Bill Matheny Issue 3921 (Check-box Authority)—Conducted conference call with the analysis who wrote the report rejecting or initial recommendation.  Had good discussion with Jessie Gonzalez and he agreed that the proposal had merit.  He has to run this by some other parties (disclosure and counsel).  He is going to give us some feedback.  He also suggested a conference call with counsel and disclosure.

Issue 218 (Check-box Authority)—Dale Cooper and Chuck Tice will discuss within the next couple of weeks and come up with something.

Outreach
None reported

Contact with Local Taxpayer Advocate
Carolyn Lewis stated that she was going to an area TAS meeting and she will put out the contact information for all the LTAs.  She needs for members that have not been in contact with there LTA to let her know.

Citizen Input
No citizens present.

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