TAP M05-008

Tax Rights and Responsibilities Education

Statement of Issue:

There are large numbers of new immigrants and many more American citizens with limited English proficiency (LEP) who have no understanding of the tax system of the United States and in many case no experience with such a tax system. In order to comply with Executive Order 13166 which mandates federal agencies to provide meaningful access to products and services to persons with LEP, there must be a plan for educating such persons with their rights and responsibilities under our tax system.

Proposal:

The Committee prepared a suggested outline for a proposed basic course with suggested audience and implementation sites. The Committee recommended that the Internal Revenue Service partner with a local public school system that teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) classes or basic education classes, or a college or junior college system that does the same, or a Low Income Tax Clinic (LITC) to produce, implement, evaluate and disseminate to organizations across the country such a curriculum which can be used and modified to meet local needs.

Response Notes: