SBSE Burden Reduction Issue Committee Meeting Minutes
August 14, 2008
Teleconference

Program Owner

• Kieliszek, Charlotte

Designated Federal Official

• Morizio, Louis

Committee Members Present

• Blanchard, Gregory
• Brock, James
• Gursey, Gregory
• Lee, MJ
• Margulies, Howard
• Marker, Patrice
• McQuiston, Robert
• Mull, Robert
• Shah, Rajiv
• Zgoda, Bruce

Committee Members Absent

• Barry, Shaun
• Clapp, Marilyn
• Jason, Julie
• Maisch, Steven

TAP Staff

• Knispel, Marisa
• Odom, Meredith

Other Attendees
None

Welcome
Zgoda welcomed all participants.

Roll Call
Quorum Met

Review Agenda

Program Owner Presentation
Kieliszek thanked the members for all the work they do and indicated she is very pleased with the suggestions the members have made so far. She announced that in spite of the organizational changes, she will remain as our liaison to the IRS until the end of the year when someone will replace her.

Audit Process-video
A teleconference was held with Zgoda, Kieliszek and Nancy Como of the Examination Policy division to discuss a survey the IRS conducted to identify areas within the process of an audit process that need to be improved or enhanced.  The IRS is considering creating a video on what to do if a taxpayer is audited to provide a visual aid to the taxpayer. At the same time, the video will educate taxpayers on the audit process. Como asked Zgoda if the members would be interested in providing ideas for this video to which he responded it would be a good assignment for the group.

Subcommittee Report-Out:

Subcommittee on Schedule C Issues
Check Sheet for Hobby Losses
Blanchard explained the Subcommittee project on this Check Sheet for taxpayers to use and identify whether an activity is considered a hobby or business income and determine if a loss is deductible. Two versions of the Check Sheet were produced, an Xcel spreadsheet and a Word version. The members of the Committee were asked to select which would be a better version – the chose the latter.  

Subcommittee on Aging Issues
Margulies informed the members that their letter on the Social Security issue was referred to Systemic Advocacy using the SAMS database and following the instructions of NTA’s counselor Christopher Lee.

Zgoda indicated that when the project of the audit video is assigned to the Committee, it would be assigned to the Aging Subcommittee.

Potential New Issue
Brock presented the members with a new issue of having VITA provide service to new and existing small business.  This will assist in record keeping and help them in preparing forms such as Form 940 and Form 941 and comply with their tax obligations. 

Public Participation
None

Closing