September 11, 2003
3:00 p.m. EDT

Attendance

• Aimee Brace
• Darlene Bramon
• Mario Burgos, Chair
• Helen Curol
• Howard Perkins
• George Pruchniewski
• Judi Nicholas, Designated Federal Official

Program Owner

• Karen Taylor

Note Taker

• Marla Ofilas

Welcome/Announcements/Review Agenda
The committee chair, Mario Burgos welcomed the committee members and Management Assistant, Marla Ofilas, took roll call. Seven members were available on the call including the Designated Federal Official. At this time a quorum was not met but because 3 members resigned from the panel. The committee adjusted their quorum ratio as per the agreement made during the TAP Orientation. (50% plus one)

Judi gave a brief explanation of the recruiting process for new members to replace the members that resigned. The names of alternates have been submitted to the Department of Treasury. TAP is waiting for approval so invitations to the annual meeting could be sent to the new members.

Sub-Committee Reports/Review
Mario began the next topic on the agenda. He introduced the sub-committees and asked the sub-committee chairs to report out on their issues.

•  E-File marketing to tax professionals

Karen and Aimee, with the e-file marketing subcommittee, explained that they had a conference call and discussed what the latest status was and where the committee was based on their meeting in June. They were able to lay out their plan for going forward on the e-filing marketing to tax professionals. They reviewed what they felt the next step would be. They also reviewed the notes from the June face-to-face meeting.

Karen reviewed the case study work. She explained that the advertising agency was preparing to go to two of the nation wide tax forums this summer and talk with tax professionals who have successfully incorporated e-filing into their business practices. One thing that the IRS hears from the tax professionals who are not e-filing is, “e-filing does not make sense to me”, “my clients don't ask for it”, or “it's too expensive.” IRS is trying to figure out ways to convince them that e-filing is going to save them money and is the right thing to do.

Karen continued to explain that she received a project overview from the communications and liaison office, in the IRS, that the advertising company is calling ERO (Electronic Return Originator) Spotlight. Although the advertising company did attend 2 of the tax forums they are still in the process of putting together the case study material. Karen was able to share with Aimee what the ERO was about. ERO is talking to those electronic return originators who have successfully incorporated e-filing into their business practice and highlighting them and sharing with other practitioners on how to go about doing it.

Karen reviewed the campaign for 2004. Over the summer a statement of objectives was written. Which are the IRS high-level objectives of where SBSE would like to go with e-file program for 2004. It's a combination of SBSE objectives and the W&I objectives because they share the same e-filing campaign. Karen explained that they are not at the tactical level yet but should be within the next few weeks. One of the key deliverables out of this campaign will be ERO spotlight.

E-services are another program that maybe offered. These are incentive program that will be given to electronic return originators that filed greater than 100 electronic returns. Karen explained that they're contacting professional and explaining to them that if they want these incentive products, like electronic account resolution or transcript delivery, they are going to have to start filing electronically or they won't receive access to e-services. The first step is going to be a registration process. The second will be the actual incentive program. This will all be added to the campaign.

The Mythologies Q&As that Terry Wedepohl is working on, has completed much of the work. Karen explained that the Mythologies Q&A packet will be pulled together and a lot of the work is in various stages and with various people but will be able to be pulled together and put in one attractive package.

Mario introduced Aimee and she began to explain the subcommittee work and their responsibilities. They have identified that there was a lack a participation in e-file by practitioners. All of the data and information that the committee had requested from Karen has been provided. There's one area that Aimee felt needed more work, Regional Trends. Aimee does have the data that was requested and she is requesting items from John Hollingsworth, committee member. The subcommittee does have the data collection completely done and is now working on the Q&As. Aimee continued to review the next steps that was developed from their previous meeting.

• The case studies are in process.
• The Q&A form to why people don't want to use e-file is almost completed.
• The committee is looking into cost to advertise in business journals.
• Karen and Aimee will be putting together a sample packet of what they will be handing out to v-coders or focus groups. This will include:
  • Statistics
  • Q&As
  • Information on v-coding
  • Information on becoming authorized filers

Mario was asked in a different meeting why the committee was interested in having the regional trends. Aimee explained that in some parts of the country based on where the tax prepares were educated, or based on internet access or based on economics, there maybe a reason why some parts of the county people e-file more than others. There may be a possibility that there's a trend that some parts of the country don't e-file and the committee should focus on that part.

Karen, Aimee and Mario continued to discuss the focus of this subcommittee group.

•  E-File Made Easy

Terry Wedepohl has been working with Tim on this project but since Tim is no longer a part of the panel Karen has asked if someone could step in as chair for this subcommittee. Mario agreed.

Karen explained on behalf of Terry that Tim had set up a website but is not sure if this could be maintained since Tim is no longer part of the panel. Helen felt that this was a great committee. Since she was not assigned any tasks, she was unaware of the steps that have been taken.

Mario will be attending an Area 6 meeting in Las Vegas and will locate Terry regarding the steps that have been taken and items that are pending regarding E-File Made Easy.

Mario felt since Tim is no longer on the panel that this subcommittee will need to rely on Terry, Portia or IRS staff to help write the review so E-File Made Easy can have an active input.

Annual Report/Annual Meeting Presentation
Mario asked Aimee if she would be available to make a presentation during the TAP Annual meeting on E-file Marketing. Aimee agreed and asked for input from the committee. Judi confirmed to Aimee that there would be power point available to use for her presentation. Aimee will send the presentation to Mary Ann Delzer to have presentation ready but will provide a disk during the meeting as a back up. Aimee has also agreed to share the presentation to the members before the annual meeting and requested that the committee provide input.

Mario asked Judi if she would be able to send out the agenda for the annual meeting to the committee. Judi agreed but notified the committee that this is a draft and the agenda is still work in progress.

Outreach Report
Committee did not have information to report on regarding outreach. Mario explained to the committee that he will need to submit a report that sums up the activities of this committee. He asked the members if there was anything they wanted to add regarding outreach and comments regarding IRS and staff support to send him the information.

Review Action Items
Mario reviewed action items:

• Aimee will work on her presentation and send it to the committee for comments and suggestions. She will also send it to Mary Ann Delzer to have the presentation downloaded on to power point. Aimee will provide a back disk.
• Mario and Darlene will try to locate Terry while in Las Vegas during their Area 6 face-to-face meeting to discuss E-file Made Easy.
• Mario will turn in the annual report that is due October 1 st . Mario is asking the committee members to send him comments they feel should be added to the annual report.
• Judi will email a copy of the annual meeting agenda.

Mario asked the committee if there were any additional comments. No there were no additional comments and Mario thanked everyone for attending the meeting.