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Area 4 Committee Meeting Minutes

Conference Call
March 22, 2005

Present

Jim Abraham
Maureen Amos
Larry Behnkendorf
Bob Broniarczyk
Paul Duquette
Dick Greenberg
Donna Hafer
Steve Hoffman
Delford Jones
Leslie Malcolmson
Joseph Meissner
Don Miller
Lovella Richardson
Ferd Schneider
Teresa Smedley, Chair

Absent

Bell-Stampley, Adrienne
Mary Ann Lawler
F. Patrick Matthews

Staff Present

Mary Ann Delzer, Program Analyst
Sandy McQuin, TAP Manager
Richard Morris, DFO
Patti Robb, Note taker

Welcome / Review Agenda
There are no changes to the agenda.

Roll Call
Quorum met.

Chair Report

Joint Committee Report — If you have identified any recipients for the TAP annual report, please forward the names to Delzer.
ACTION: Everyone needs to identify recipients for the TAP annual report. We will compile a master list and will use the list for recruitment too. Email your list to Delzer.

National Office is still looking for feedback on the recruitment process.

ACTION: Please send your comments on feedback and recruitment to Delzer. She will consolidate and forward.
Face-to-Face Meeting Planning — Robb did a roll call and asked each member if they were attending, if they were driving or flying, and if they planned to take the Campus tour. The meeting dates are April 25-26, 2005. Travel to Memphis on Sunday, April 24 and if possible, travel home Tuesday evening. If flights are not available on Tuesday evening, then you will return home on Wednesday, April 27, 2005.

Public Input
None

Discussion of Elevated Issues

Lien Processing — McQuin stated Received response from SBSE that program owner is available to talk with Area 4. Was invited to the conference call and not able to attend.
ACTION: Delzer will contact Lien Processing program owner to arrange conference call with the committee.
Innocent/Injured Spouse — Still waiting for IRS response.

Discussion of Current Issues

Area 4 Subcommittee Assignments

Refund Anticipation Loans (RAL)
Joe Meissner, Chair, Maureen Amos, Jim Abraham, Leslie Malcolmson, Robert Broniarczyk, Delford Jones
The subcommittee met yesterday. They are still gathering information and updating materials. Looking to approach LITCs to gather information on their experiences. Delzer is looking into the policy of the IRS regarding the debt indicator. We plan to make recommendations and stay within the scope of TAP.
Customer Service Training / Record of Contact
Larry Behnkendorf, Chair, Donna Hafer. Lovella Richardson, Donald Miller, Paul Duquette, Adrienne Bell-Stampley
The subcommittee met yesterday and identified some issues. Who can answer what questions on the toll-free? Asking to see the telephone transfer policy. When taxpayers call following up on prior calls, there is no narrative found on the computer file to assist the employee. Problem with timely responses as taxpayers just receive stall letters. Committee needs subject matter experts (SME) for these issues and McQuin has forwarded this request to Coston.
Penalty and Interest
Pat Matthews, Chair, Dick Greenberg, Ferd Schneider, Steve Hoffman, Teresa Smedley
The subcommittee met and discussed the issue. The penalty and interest calculations IRS gives taxpayers is not sufficient for taxpayers to determine the accuracy. Change in law will require IRS to include complete penalty and interest calculation with notices. Contractor is currently working on the draft of this attachment. Committee closing the issue.

ACTION: Delzer to secure draft of Penalty and Interest attachment for consideration by Area 4.
Form 990 — Revisited
Jim Abraham, Leslie Malcolmson, Paul Duquette, Joe Meissner (chair still needs to be identified
Delzer asked if the committee wanted to revisit this issue. Recent Senate hearings indicated that the Form 990 needs reworking. Malcomson said they already made their recommendations and received a response, but should review to see what has transpired. Abraham said he would like to look at this issue again.

New Issues
Miller did an outreach to about 120 people involved in VITA and the number one complaint was the declining support from the IRS to the VITA and TCE sites. Is this a budgetary problem? It is starting to affect the volunteers to these programs. Smedley asked if the IRS runs and gives grants to VITA? McQuin said there is no monetary grant, as the idea is to be a partnership. Schneider said that TCE is co-sponsored by AARP and funded by them. No national group has partnered or sponsored with VITA.

Don Miller, Chair, Ferd Schneider, Dick Greenberg, Teresa Smedley, Jim Abraham (volunteered by Dick Greenberg) Leslie Malcolmson, Maureen Amos, Paul Duquette

ACTION: Miller and Delzer will schedule a conference call to for the VITA subcommittee.

ACTION: Contact ID 3453 – If caller left contact information, Delzer will respond. The Olympia Fields, Illinois, office is no longer a walk-in office.

Outreach (see Attachment One)
Morris reiterated the mission of TAP, to solicit and collect new issues. Panel members are not to express their personal thoughts while representing the Panel.

Meissner – Met with LITC Coalition.
Broniarczyk – Spoke to senior citizen group and they would like to see publications and forms in large print.
Smedley – Spoke at a local rotary club to about 25 people.
Jones – Attended meeting of his State Legislature.

Office Report
McQuin gave an update on recruitment. The application will be available on-line on April 1. We are trying to steer applicants to apply on-line as opposed to using the paper application. We will be sending members information and posters. We will be recruiting from every state so we can build up the alternate pool. We may be coming to request your help when we start interviewing. All interviews will be done by telephone this year due to budget concerns.

Greenberg asked what has happened to What’s On TAP?

ACTION: McQuin will follow up with the Communication Committee regarding dissemination of What’s On TAP.

Miller asked where we are as far as measuring TAP?

ACTION: McQuin will follow up on TAP Measurements team.

Meeting Adjourned

ACTION ITEMS:

Members:

1. Identify recipients for the TAP annual report. We will compile a master list and will use the list for recruitment too. Email your list to Delzer.
Please send your comments on feedback and recruitment to Delzer. She will consolidate and forward.

Delzer:

Will contact the taxpayer to see if he has received his 1040 package in the mail.
Will contact Lien Processing program owner to arrange conference call with the committee.
To secure draft of Penalty and Interest attachment for consideration by Area 4.
Miller and Delzer will schedule a conference call to the VITA subcommittee.
To Contact ID 3453 – If caller left contact information, Delzer will respond. The Olympia Fields, Illinois, office is no longer a walk-in office.

McQuin:

Will follow up with the Communication Committee regarding dissemination of What’s On TAP.
Will follow up on TAP Measurements team.

Attachment One

Speaker Reports for Area 4

Report from 02/01/2005 to 03/17/2005

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		2/10/2005		Organization:			Tellico Village Homeowners
Date of Event:		2/10/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	60
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:
Audience mostly retired, mid to upper income people.

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		2/13/2005		Organization:			IRS Employee, retired
Date of Event:		2/13/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	1
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		2/15/2005		Organization:			Tellico Village Chrysler Club
Date of Event:		2/15/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	20
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:
Retired, professional Chrysler employees.

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		2/16/2005		Organization:			Episcopal Church
Date of Event:		2/16/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	7
Media Interview	Speech			Other	Business	Discussion Group
	Discussion Group
Speaker Comments:

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		2/26/2005		Organization:			IRS Employee, retired
Date of Event:		2/26/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	0
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		3/3/2005		Organization:			IRS Employee, retired
Date of Event:		3/3/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	1
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Broniarczyk			Delzer
Date of Entry:		3/7/2005		Organization:			Alumni of the Romeoville Police Department
Date of Event:		3/7/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	30
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:
I explained the history of TAP, what TAP is, what TAP isn’t, some elevated recommendations, and a question and answer period. Also, I distributed bookmarks and pens. The group was surprised and appreciative of the fact that 100 volunteers would expend their time and energy to improve the IRS on behalf of all citizens. Also, their main concern was that RAL’s for EITC recipients should prohibited by the government.

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		3/7/2005		Organization:			Technical Society of Knoxville
Date of Event:		3/7/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	15
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:
This is a group of professional people (mostly engineers and scientists and a couple CPA's). About 15 people were present. Many of these folks are pretty adept with numbers and complex calculations but even they complained about the complexity of the forms and instructions. I realize this is nothing new and is a common complaint across the country, but I think it's particularly telling coming from a group like this. Many of them prepare their own returns and were not aware of the existence of Pub 17. Those who were suggested that the IRS should publicize it more since it's a big help to those who do their own returns.

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Broniarczyk			Delzer
Date of Entry:		3/10/2005		Organization:			Grand Haven Homeowners Assoc.
Date of Event:		3/10/2005		Site of Presentation:			Grand Haven Lodge
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	200
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:
I explained the history of TAP, what TAP is, what TAP isn’t, some elevated recommendations, and a question and answer period. Also I distributed bookmarks, letter openers, pads, and pens. The group was appreciative of the fact that TAP exists and the toll free number were they could contact TAP with their IRS concerns. Many questions were asked but the most prevalent was what are the guidelines necessary to be eligible for EITC.

Member(s)/Staff Assigned:				Miller			Delzer
Date of Entry:		3/10/2005		Organization:			TN Ruritan Club
Date of Event:		3/10/2005		Site of Presentation:
Subject/Purpose of Program:
Type of Presentation:					Type of Group:		Total Audience:
Fair/Expo Booth	Seminar		Forum		Individual	Other	19
Media Interview	Speech		Other		Business
Speaker Comments:
This is a service club like Kiwanis, Lions etc. Again, I heard the complexity complaint -- specifically about Sch. D page 2 and the Sch D Tax Worksheet. Also the Instructions for Form 1040. Re Sch D page 2, it's been improved over prior years with the addition of the Worksheet but there may be room for a little more simplification for those whose only Cap Gains are from selling securities. I'll give this a little more thought and if I can come up with something a bit more specific, I'll table it as an issue.