SB/SE Payroll Tax Issue Committee Meeting Minutes

April 8 2004
3pm EST

Attendance

• Jim Abraham
• Clayton Agena
• Charlotte Cassady
• Theodore Perros
• Charles Silva
• Leonard Steinberg
• Steven Wood

Not in Attendance

• Maria Hermann
• David Meyer
• Frank Wood

Staff

• Margie Kinney, Program Owner
• Judi Nicholas, TAP Manager and Designated Federal Official
• Mary Peterson O'Brien, Program Analyst

Roll Call
Mary took the roll and 6 members present. The requirements for a quorum were met.

Welcome
Leonard welcomed everyone and reviewed the agenda. The agenda will proceed as scheduled.

Review/Approve Minutes
Minutes are not ready from the Las Vegas Face-to-Face; therefore, they will be approved at the next meeting.

Updates from Program Owner
Margie had no updates to report for this meeting and turned the time back to the committee.

Committee Business
Mary discussed the Area 4 TAP committee’s interest in the Form W-4 issue. She participated in a conference call with the Area 4 subcommittee working on the issue. There interest is on the employee’s burden in completing and filing the Form W-4 and the inadequacies and burden this can cause to the taxpayer. It was discussed that there should not be a duplication of effort around this issue and this committee would very much like to work on this issue. The possibility of combining the Area 4 subcommittee with the Payroll subcommittee working on the Form W4 issues was discussed. Margie Kinney, the program owner has no problem with a combined group. Mary asked the payroll committee their thoughts surrounding the issue. The committee discussed the benefits and problems associated with a combined subcommittee. By consensus, it was decided to go ahead and combine the committees. The process will be to invite them to the next conference call. Margie will give a background from the IRS perspective of Form W4. The committee can decide on how to set up meetings and how to work the issue at that time.
The issue of having another face-to-face was brought up. Originally, the payroll committee did not ask to have another face-to-face meeting because it was expected to have the recommendations finalized by the end of June 2004. The committee feels that a face-to-face would benefit the new goals of completing recommendations on Form W4. Judi said that with the discussion of what the committee would be doing at a second face-to-face meeting, there could be a business reason to hold a second meeting if the budget allows. The committee agreed by consensus that if a face-to-face meeting was approved, to meet in mid July in a central location such as Denver or Chicago.

Action Item:
Judi will discuss the possibility with having a second meeting and will get back to the group at the next teleconference.

Margie also discussed that she would like the group to also work the education piece, the Payroll Tax Workshop on CD ROM over the summer. Margie also stated that she would like the committee to submit recommendations

Action Item:
Mary will contact Area 4 to invite them to the next Payroll Teleconference.

Subcommittee Report Out
Steve discussed the reporting subcommittee.

Jim talked about the report he sent to everyone this morning. He would like feedback.

The final committee meeting report will be by the 30th. Leonard will send out the penalty recommendation draft by May 5th.

Conclusion
Next meeting will be May 6, 2004. Leonard adjourned the meeting.