October 7, 2002

The TAP members met for the first meeting of the SB/SE Payroll Tax Issue Committee on Monday, October 7, 2002 in Alexandria, VA at the Hilton Mark Center. The purpose of the meeting was to receive guidance regarding the SB/SE organization and begin to lay the foundation for the development for their Committee.

Members in Attendance:

Panel Members -

• Leonard Steinberg
• Justin Ducette
• Charlotte Cassady
• Keith Johnson
• Theodore Perros
• Denise Bigger
• Margie Kinney, SB/SE Program Owner, IRS
• Thad Davis
• Steve Wood
• Charles Silva
• Norma Bishop
• James Abraham

Staff -

• Designated Federal Official (DFO): Mary Peterson
• Facilitator: Paul Rice
• Management Assistant: Marla Ofilas

Committee Members expressed their goals and expectations of the first meeting and for the Committee:

• The issue committee agreed to a consensus on all issues
• An agreement was made that the Quorum is a total of 7 out of the issue committee membership to be present if it is less then 13. If greater than 13 quorum will be 8
• Committee will prepare agenda and have available 2 week prior to meeting
• Leonard Steinberg, from New Jersey, will act as temporary Chair

SB/SE Organization and Payroll Taxes Program Overview
Margie Kinney, Program Owner, provided a detailed overview of Employment Taxes and how TAP can assist in the Reduction of Payroll Tax Burden on Small Employers. Examples issues SB/SE are looking to TAP for help are:

• Standardized EIN
• W-2/3 Single Point Filing
• Harmonized Wage Reporting

Development of the SB/SE Payroll Tax Program Operating Procedures
The Committee developed The TAP Issue Committee Operating Procedures (see Attachment 1). During this discussion, several additions were made to the Behavior During Meetings Procedures (see Attachment 2). There were questions regarding several responsibilities that are set per the FACA rules and regulations regarding the role of the Designated Federal Official (DFO). Mary, the DFO, was able to answer the questions asked and all other questions that were not answered were placed on the parking lot list. The Committee agreed to complete the review of The Procedures during the 1st teleconference in December.

Payroll Tax Issue Committee Meeting Dates for 2002/2003:

• October 2002 Orientation/Annual Meeting
   
• December 3, 2002 Tuesday at 3 Eastern and 12 Pacific -Teleconferencing
   
• January 11th 2003 -1st Face to Face meeting
  1st Choice - Texas
  2nd Choice - Phoenix, Az
  3rd Choice - Al., New Mexico
  (Panel will decide exact date for May during this meeting)
   
• May 2003 -
  1st Choice - Face to Face
  2nd Choice - Video Conferencing
  (Panel will decide exact date for August during this meeting)
   
• August 2003 -
  1st Choice - Face to Face meeting

Conclusions:
The Committee concluded the meeting by requesting a copy of Nina Olson's Annual Report to Congress, the meeting minutes from the last CAP panel meeting, and information to the TAP website.

Attachments:

1. TAP Issue Committee Operating Procedures
2. TAP Issue Committee Behavior During Meetings
3. TAP Issue Committee Behavior Between Meeting

Handouts during the Meeting:

1. Taxpayer Advocacy Panel - Issue Committee on Payroll Taxes
2. Reducing Burden on Small Business Employers

Parking lot questions:

1. Having facilitator at each meeting - Is this possible?
2. Is the committee going to function by Roberts Rule of Order?
3. When we speak, what are guidelines we use?

Unfinished Business and Future Agenda Items:

1. Identify measures for success of our committee
2. Establish agenda format
3. Action Items format
4. Behavior during meetings (ground rules) - finalize
5. Behaviors between meetings - finalize
6. What start-up questions need to be addressed
7. Determine what information is needed for committee to begin working on issue
8. Team Building. How do we add new members to ensure that they are part of the team?