Area 6 Committee Meeting
Teleconference Minutes
February 22, 2007

Designated Federal Official
Chet Blair

Attendance
Milissa Bensen, Vice Chair
Marilynn Clapp
Laura Criel
Jerry Fireman
Steve Maisch
Neil Mitchell
Maryann Motza, Chair
Willy Nordwind
Joe Shields
Ed Uhrig
Harris Widmer

Absent
George Bates

Guest
Dean Conder
Juan Rolon, Albuquerque Local Taxpayer Advocate

Staff
Judi Nicholas, Program Manager
Dave Coffman, Program Analyst
Marla Ofilas, Note Taker

Opening/Welcome
Chet open the meeting and Maryann welcomed the members and guest.

Outreach Review
The full committee reviewed the outreach report for the month of January 2007. Milissa commented that it was a busy month for outreach and that the members did a good job. 

Outreach Commitments for 2007
Maryann reminded members to prepare their outreach commitments for 2007. In previous years, Area 6 members formulated and shared their commitments at the beginning of the year.  This helped them to keep their outreach efforts on track for the coming year.  Milissa suggested that outreach activities cover all areas, from one-on-one contacts to speaking to larger groups.

Action: Dave will send an e-mail to Area 6 members, asking them to submit their 2007 outreach commitments.  Dave will include the list of 2006 commitments as a guide.  Members will send their 2007 commitments to Dave by the revised deadline of March 22nd.

Subcommittee Reports

IRS Services Subcommittee Report

• #3695 (Telephones – Unable to Reach Actual Person)

The subcommittee discovered that Area 2 submitted a similar recommendation to IRS with issue #3925 (Option for Access to Person on IRS Toll-Free Lines). Based on the similarities, the subcommittee suggested to the full committee that issue #3695 be returned to the parking lot. In addition, the analyst will monitor the progress of Area 2’s recommendation.   

Decision: The full committee agreed to place issue #3695 in the parking lot.  The analyst will monitor the progress of issue #3925.

• #3689 (Liens – Problem with Centralized Lien Desk)

The subcommittee recommends that this issue be dropped. Based on research that was completed, the phone number in question was found to be working.  Staff followed up with the originator of the issue.  He has since found another way to contact the centralized lien desk.  The subcommittee felt that the issue has resolved itself.

Decision: Full committee agreed that issue #3689 should be dropped.

Taxpayer Burden Subcommittee Report

• #3400 (Early Withdrawal Penalty – Inadequate Instructions)

The subcommittee met and a decision was made to change the title and issue statement. The subcommittee agreed that IRA owners need to know about the mandatory distribution at 70 ½ years of age before they reach that age.  The subcommittee hopes to be ready to draft a recommendation at the face-to-face meeting in Phoenix.

Miscellaneous Subcommittee Report

• #3942 (Requirement to Provide AGI to Register for e-services)

During their last meeting, the subcommittee reviewed a set of “mock-up” e-services screen prints.  The mock-ups reflect the changes being recommended by the subcommittee.   Maryann drafted a Joint Committee referral for this issue and shared it with the full committee. 

Decision: The full committee agreed with the proposed recommendation; however, the committee would like clarification on the use of Individual Taxpayer Identification numbers (ITINs) before the recommendation is elevated to the Joint Committee. 

Area 6 Face-to-Face Meeting/TAP Town Hall
Judi reported that the Phoenix face-to-face meeting and the TAP town hall will take place on March 29th, the first day of the Area 6 face-to-face meeting.  The town hall will be held at Arizona State University (ASU). The Area 6 meeting scheduled for the afternoon of March 29th will be shorter than usual.  This will allow time to prepare for the evening’s town hall meeting.  Judi anticipates that all members will participate in the town hall; however, only 3 or 4 will have a role in the opening presentation. 

Decision: Milissa agreed to host the town hall. Laura, Ed, and Joe agreed to speak at the opening presentation.  Marilynn agreed to facilitate the Focus Group meeting that will be held immediately after the town hall concludes.

Action: Judi will schedule a teleconference and inform the town hall presenters of their presentation topics.

Recap Action Items and Timeframes
Dave reviewed the actions from the meeting. Maryann reminded the members that the scheduled March teleconference was canceled since the committee will be meeting in Phoenix the following week.   

Dave also expressed appreciation to all the Area 6 members that participated in the administration of the TAC surveys. Dave noted that a majority of the Area 6 members volunteered to administer the survey. 

Jerry asked for an update on issue #3279 which was approved by the Joint Committee in November. He wanted to know if the recommendation was elevated to the IRS.  Judi indicated that she was not sure if the issue was elevated.  She asked Dave to research the progress of #3249 and report at the next meeting.

Action: Dave will check with Barbara Toy on issue #3249 to see if it has been elevated to the IRS.

Closing