SB/SE E-Filing Issue Committee Meeting Minutes

September 9, 2004

Attendance

• Aimee Brace
• Mario Burgos
• David Cain
• Helen Curol
• Patrick McCombie

Program Owners

• Karen Taylor
• Phyllis Grimes

Staff

• Mary Ann Delzer, Designated Federal Official, TAP Analyst

Welcome/Announcements/Review Agenda/Roll Call
Burgos welcomed everyone to the call.

Public Input
None

Annual Assessment/Finishing Steps
Burgos thanked all those who returned their comments for the annual assessment. Burgos stressed the need to receive input from all the members of the committee. The annual assessment is due to the Joint Committee by October 15, 2004. As far as the oral report at the annual meeting, the committee has a great group staying on that can help. Staff to check on availability of internet access to highlight the webpage the committee worked on.

Burgos stated that the assessments received so far indicate that the members feel they have accomplished what the IRS tasked the committee to do. Grimes shared that she would be wrapping up the committees work since Taylor has moved to her new job. Grimes also agreed that the work the committee was charged with is completed. She believes a new issue will be worked next fiscal year.

Brace asked if hard copies of the direct mail product could be available to share at the annual meeting. Taylor stated the Perry is working on that, and the copies will be available for November.

Burgos asked about the status of the printing of the direct mail packages. Grimes stated that 60,000 copies are being printed and that they should go out early next week. In light of that fact, Burgos asked at what point in the process the IRS would be able to get a sense of the reaction to the packages. Grimes stated it would probably be six months. The TEC field force will be going out and following-up and getting reactions to the materials. Really will have to wait to see there is a change of behavior. IRS will look in the next six months to see if people sign up to be EROs and if the number of e-filed returns increases.
ACTION: Delzer to contact Wedepohl before TAP Annual meeting to determine hits on the webpage.

Burgos asked if the program owners had anything to share in the annual assessment process. Grimes stated that a formalized business plan, with a business case, had to be done before the printing of the 60,000 packages. The business plan does include an action plan for measurement.

Curol stated she would like to see that, to ensure all geographical regions were covered.
ACTION: Grimes to share business case for the marketing materials for inclusion in the committee’s annual assessment.

Office Report/Action Items
Delzer reiterated the need for all committee members to participate in the annual self-assessment. IRS finds the information very valuable. As a staff we need to know what things worked well and what things did not. The staff wants to keep the best practices and look for ways to further improve the process.

Closing/Assessment
Burgos thanked the members for their attendance. See you in Washington, D.C.!