Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)
IRS Notice Improvement Issue Committee

Meeting Minutes (Teleconference)
March 19, 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
David Jones
David Meister
Neil Mitchell
Max Scott
Lee Stieger
Chuck Tice
Edward Uhrig
Norma Woodard

Members Absent
Joe Hurr
Howard Stahl

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

Guest(s) Present
There were not guest present.

Welcome & Roll Call/Quorum
Lee Stieger opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. 
Ben Chapman asked if Paul Colombo was off TAP or off Notices.  Lee stated that he has just been moved to another issue committee, but is still a part of TAP.  Dave Meister also mentioned that Paul has agreed to continue to work on the 886 with his subcommittee.

Comments from Program Owner
Jim reported that Michael Peleg sent a response back on the penalty letters.  Jim has forwarded that to Sallie.  There are a couple of requests for DAT scores; two has been done on notices and one still remaining on Pub 3498 which is going to be redesigned. There was information that came in regarding the stuffer.  Jim stated that during the last meeting he mentioned getting a memo done as quickly as possible and take the lead from the stuffer team with what their direction and instructions are on how they want to use the TAP.  They want to find out some things from external stakeholders.  There are four questions:  (1) is there any value added to the IRS including a blank tax form, i.e., F. 1040, or tax form instruction booklet with a notice?  (2) We do not send you this material and you need a blank form, or need to review an instruction booklet - how would you obtain the necessary material? (3) Is there any value to the IRS including other forms or schedules and their related instructions - such as Forms 2210 or 2220 - Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals or Businesses? (4) Is there any value added to the IRS including Publications with a notice? If we don't include these Publications and you need to review one - how would you obtain the necessary material? My suggestion to you is, as you are preparing the memo on the compliance notices think of how you can work the answers to these questions in.  Sallie will send the response from Michael Peleg and the four questions from Ann out to the committee.

Dave Meister stated that these four questions that the stuffer subcommittee is what they have been working on for the last two years.  Sallie will forward to Jim the initial recommendation that the subcommittee prepared regarding the stuffer project.

DAT Standards
Ben Chapman reported for Dave Jones.  There have not been any thing new since last month and will have some recommendations for the committee to look at next month during the Face to Face.

FAT Update
Lee Stieger sent out the form and the standards to the members of the Ad Hoc Committee Chair and Vice Chair.  He is still waiting on a response.  He is going to follow-up on it this week.

CP-220 
Ben Chapman reported that it was completed last month and have been forwarded.

Form 3498A
Max reported that the form has been scored and the subcommittee will get together and get the scores finalized next week.

Letter from Program Owner
Lee Stieger reported the committee received responses back from the program owners, the letters were sent out as a pre-read.  The first letter dealt with the testing memo that was forwarded up.  It stated that they will arrange a meeting with the committee in April to discuss the committee’s expectation and how we can be involved in the process of conducting forms and notice testing.  Jim informed the committee that the meeting in April with Barbara Powell has been cancelled.  Lee asked if there was a chance if Barbara could possibly get on a conference call.  Jim wants Sallie to send him an email stating the possible dates and times and he will try to set it up.  The next letter was on the Visual Impaired Recommendation.  Sydney informed the committee that they need to go to a higher level.  It is out of the scope of correspondence redesign.  There was a memo sent to several people in the area that will work with it.  They might contact the committee to discuss this, going through Jim.  Lee stated that he don’t know where it will go.  Jim stated that he has not received anything regarding the memo as of yet. He mentioned that it go the people that can make moves on it several levels above Sydney.  Lee Stieger stated that this should be tabled; he asked what the other members think.  Ben Chapman thinks that it should be followed up on.  Nancy Ferree that the committee can draft up a memo and respond and she can forward it to whomever it goes to.  The committee decided to respond to the memo.

Face to Face Meeting
Sallie Chavez reported that the Face-to-Face will be held April 16-18, 2008 in Salt Lake City, UT.  The morning of the 16th will be a tour of the print site in Ogden, UT for the members that have not toured it yet.  You will need a picture ID for the tour.  Sallie will get with everyone to let them know if there is anything needed.  We will be staying at Homewood Suites in Salt Lake City.

Lee Stieger asked if anyone have anything that is not on the agenda and would like to add something, send an email to him or Sallie and they will see about adding it. Ben Chapman volunteered to join the sub committee with Dave Meister to work on the 886 HOH.  Sallie will send Ben the information from the previous subcommittee call to bring him up to speed.

Closing Remarks/Survey/Adjournment
The minutes from February 20, 2008 was approved by consensus.  Lee Stieger thanked everyone for attending and the meeting was adjourned at 1:35pm EST.

Next Meeting is the Face-to-Face in Salt Lake City, UT April 16-18, 2008.

*Certification:  These minutes were approved by the committee by consensus on April 16, 2008.