Area 5 Committee Meeting
January 9, 2007
DFO:
- Marian Adams, LTA, Wichita, KS
MEMBERS:
- Sandra Bland, Bemidji, MN
- Elizabeth Colvin, Austin, TX
- Chris Freeman, Pleasant Hill, IA
- Howard Guthmann, St. Paul, MN
- Bob Meyers, Omaha, NE
- Rick Rousseau, Harker Heights, TX
- Rajiv Shah, Columbia, MO
- Lee Stieger, Leavenworth, KS
- Kenneth Wright, Ashland, MO
- Warren Wong, Rochester, MN
MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Kay Bell, Austin, TX
- Ralph Rivera, Garland, TX
- Mary Suther, Dallas, TX
STAFF:
- Bernie Coston, TAP Director
- Sandy McQuin, Manager, Milwaukee, WI
- Mary Ann Delzer, Program Analyst, Milwaukee, WI
Welcome / Review Agenda / Introductions
Ken Wright welcomed everyone and reviewed the agenda.
Area 5 Chair Report
- Joint Committee Report-out
A short Joint Committee meeting was held in D.C. to make some administrative decisions and set the calendar. Training will be in Dallas this week for all the chairs to learn their duties.
As for Area 5, we would appreciate everyone letting the staff know ahead of time if you are unable to attend conference calls. This will allow for the adjustment of the agenda if necessary.
Thanks to Elizabeth Colvin and Howard Guthmann for preparing the draft report. First half of the report is used to prepare the TAP Annual Report that goes to Treasury, the National Taxpayer Advocate, and the Commissioner. What is included here really justifies TAP’s existence, so we need to further flesh out the report and make sure we have input from everybody. Area 5 has many good ideas and we need to make Area 5 look good.
It is very important that everyone respond when we ask for input. Would like everyone to respond to all emails so staff knows the message has been received and all have had an opportunity to contribution. Looking to adopt this policy for Area 5 so that we know everyone received the information.
ACTION: Delzer to complete the draft Area 5 Self-assessment by January 12, 2007 and email to all panel members for comment.
ACTION: Panel members to give comment on draft Area 5 Self-assessment by January 17, 2006. Affirmative responses are required.
Wong questioned the best way to handle negative comments.
McQuin reminded the committee that the self-assessment is made up of two parts. The first part is the information that feeds into the TAP Annual Report. The second part, or the committee assessment, gives members comments about leadership, staff, IRS cooperation, etc. Those items don’t go to the annual report, but are items Area 5 needs to consider. How can we make TAP better.
Wright acknowledged that there are two pages of concerns listed. As a new chair, it is too soon to know how we can cure these problems, but please call or email to be heard.
Issue Discussion
Toll Free Issues – Guthmann
In light of having new subcommittee members, Delzer sent an email requesting a conference call be held to focus on the toll free issues.
ACTION: Guthmann to schedule a conference call to decide direction of the subcommittee and determine necessary research.
Taxpayer Assistance Centers –Wong
A meeting will be held January 11, with members from Area 2 and 3. Delzer commented that this committee will be looking at all the TAC issues and perhaps divide into yet more subcommittees.
Address for Payments – Stieger
Quarterly payments are sent to different address depending on where the taxpayer lives. We need to decide the scope of what we want to look at.
ACTION: Delzer to send email reminding subcommittee members of conference call January 17, at 9:30 a.m.
POA, Check Box Authority – Guthmann
Concern expressed about lack of guidance received from the Joint Committee about the direction to follow with the rewrite of the issue. Wright shared that he received the background information and will assist with the issue re-write. Looking forward to discussing and deciding how to move forward
Outreach Commitment
McQuin reminded the committee that making a commitment to outreach was discussed at the annual meeting. How should we approach goals, individual or area wide?
We have been very successful with the press releases prepared for the new folks. Feel free to use the copy received and share with media or other organizations that you may know.
Marketing materials, as described in the outreach kit, are available. Please contact staff if you have outreach opportunities, and we will send you what you need. Business cards ordered as well that you can use
Guthmann stated that Area 5 seems shy of issues. Outreach is the principal way to get issues. At our Burden Reduction meeting we received a wonderful list of issues affecting small business.
ACTION: Delzer to inquire about survey given to Taxpayer Burden Reduction committee to see if it can be shared with Area 5.
McQuin reminded all to be sure to report outreach as we really need a record. As you do outreach, be sure to keep issues discussed in mind and share them with the committee. Outreach is a great way to find out the peoples’ concerns. If you want reimbursement, be sure to let the office know in advance.
Meyers proposed a goal of two outreaches per month, per member. With thirteen members, that would be over 300 contacts for the Area 5 committee this year. If you think about it, that would be ten times more than were reported last year. Don’t forget to count, and report your one on one conversations as Outreach contacts.
ACTION: Delzer to list on monthly meeting agenda a tally of outreaches done per month, as well as year to date.
Freeman asked about when the business cards would arrive.
ACTION: Delzer to inquire status of business card order.
Bland asked about attending the Home and Boat Show in Bemidji. Is this the type of event we should pursue?
ACTION: Bland to share information about the Home and Boat Show. Delzer to contact show coordinators to inquire about TAP attendance.
ACTION: Freeman to pursue attendance of TAP at the Iowa state fair
Office Report-McQuin
We have contacted the Campus Taxpayer Advocate in Kansas City to inquire about receiving a tour during the dates we picked for our face to face meeting, May 6-8, 2007. She will coordinate with the facility for us.
If you experience problems with the use of TAPSpace, please call the office and not the vendor.
All information for our meetings is available on the calendar and in the Area 5 folder. Coston stated the contractor is behind and requested members to be patience work to be completed
Public Input
None
Closing / Assessment-Stieger
Meeting was slow in getting started, but input was heard from many people. Good basis to start the new year.
Coston shared that the National Taxpayer Advocate Report to Congress has been released. Each panel member will receive a copy of the report on CD, but it can be viewed on irs.gov.
The top five most serious problems encountered by taxpayers are, Alternative Minimum Tax, Tax Gap, Transparency of the IRS, True Costs and Benefits of Private Debt Collection, Early Intervention in IRS Collection Cases.
Wright thanked the members for attending the call and asked that everyone respond to emails sent this next month so we know everyone has had an opportunity to give input.
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 13, 2007, 9:30 am Central Time |
Text Version
