Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)
IRS Notice Improvement Issue Committee
Meeting Minutes (Teleconference)
February 20, 2008 at 12:30PM EST

Designated Federal Official (DFO)
Nancy L. Ferree, TAP Program Manager, Plantation, FL

Members Present
Carolyn Adams-Dodds
Ben Chapman
Steve Fulkrod
Joe Hurr
David Jones
David Meister
Neil Mitchell
Max Scott
Lee Stieger
Chuck Tice
Edward Uhrig
Norma Woodard

Members Absent
Howard Stahl

Staff Present
Anita Fields, Secretary
Sallie Chavez, TAP Analyst
Jim Cesarano, IRS Program Owner

Guest(s) Present

Welcome & Roll Call/Quorum
Lee Stieger opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. 

Comments from Program Owner
Jim Cesarano reported that since the last meeting we received three documents to DAT score. The CP 220 has already been scored.  Michael Peleg would like to get the CP 220 and 210 re-scored including the penalty and interest section.  We just received the new prioritized list of notices to score from Michael Peleg. The response to the August memos has been forwarded and is available. 

886H Call
Jim reported that there was a meeting with the team on the HOH and the DEP and there is a meeting schedule on EITC.  The Subject Matter Expert (SME) asked the team to do a little extra work on the HOH and re-score it with the full documentation. Ben shared that there is a call scheduled for this Friday 22 February 2008 with Sallie and the SME for the 886 HOH EITC. 

Insert (Stuffer) Project
Dave Meister reported that the team is very close to having a document ready to elevate.  Steve Fulkrod mentioned that the document went out last night to the subcommittee, February 19.  Jim suggested that the document should be sent out to the team, to see how it works with them.  Jim passed along that Debra Lopez wants the review to go to the team and then it will be followed up on.  Jim is in the process of getting Debra Lopez to attend the face to face meeting.  Steve stated now that the first group of notices with inserts is complete; there is a process that is easier to work with.  Dave Meister informed the committee that J.T. Wright is working with the subcommittee on these stuffers as a member of the public.  Jim mentioned that since the inserts for CP 501 and the compliance letters is a hot button for Nina, that it would be an important thing mentioned in the memo as it is forwarded.  Lee Stieger asked that the memo be sent to him and Sallie before it is sent to Jim.

DAT Standards
Dave Jones reported that there has been nothing substantial done, he feels that there be some sort of guidance given out on how to score the notices.  Lee stated that he will have something in writing to be distributed next week to the members on the subcommittee.  There is going to be some sort of training for DAT scoring at the face to face.  Jim suggested that it might be helpful to do scoring as a group, so that it can be standardized. 

FAT Update
Max reported that the committee has used it to score some forms and some people felt it was of very little value.  It was fine with simple forms, had issues with complicated forms.  There were suggestions to make a few changes and they have been made.  The subcommittee agrees with the form as it is.  The next step will be either to give it to Jim Cesarano for a formal review or pass it on to the Tax Forms and Pubs issue committee and go forward.   Ben suggested that it be sent to the Forms and Pubs committee.  It was decided with consensus for Lee Stieger to speak with Ken Wright and Al Rodriguez the Vice Chair and Chair of the Forms and Pubs Committee before making a final decision.

CP-210
Chuck Tice reported he is waiting on a couple more scores from the other members on the subcommittee; a subcommittee conference call has been scheduled for Monday February 25th to finalize scores. Chuck will have something to report on next month’s call.

CP-220 
Completed and forwarded. 

Form 3498A
Max reported that nothing has been done, but has set a completion date of March 16, 2008 for the subcommittee.  There will be a report at the Face to Face in Salt Lake City.

Face to Face Meeting
Sallie Chavez reported we will meet in the IRS building in Salt Lake City, Utah and staying in a Homewood Suites.  There will be a tour of the print site in Ogden the morning of the 16th for first year members.

Closing Remarks/Survey/Adjournment
The December and January meeting minutes have been approved as written by consensus.  Dave Meister asked opinions concerning the stimulus package.  It was a discussion and he went away with the answer that if you file an extension, you will still received the stimulus payment.

Lee thanked everyone for attending and reminded them to complete their survey.  The meeting was adjourned at 1:30pm EST.

Next Meeting March 19, 2008 via Teleconference @ 12:30pm EST

*Certification:  These minutes were approved by the committee by consensus on March 19, 2008.