TAP 04-049

Marketing TAP

Statement of Issue:

It is an ongoing concern that the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is not widely known.

Proposal:

To promote TAP’s existence and purpose and increase the quantity and quality of grass-root issues brought to the TAP, The Area 7 Committee suggested the following prepared language to be inserted in IRS news releases and text from the IRS National Office often used by various businesses/outlets during tax season to communicate important tax information and changes.

SPEAKUP
The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is an independent panel of citizen volunteers appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to make suggestions for improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service. Panel members from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico will not only listen to what you have to say but will also give your suggestions a voice. For more information call us at 1-888-912-1227 or visit our website at www.improveirs.org.

This information should be coordinated nationally with any organization that normally provides tax tips and information to their customers. For example, businesses such as Payroll Services (ADP) and the National Association of Federal Credit unions provide tax tips in statements mailed to their customers. Information about TAP should be made available to various communication vehicles that use news releases from the IRS to make tax guides.

This prepared language should also be included in news releases about TAP.