Current training requirements for all VITA volunteer tax preparers require them to certify at either the Basic or Advance level. Many, if not most, certify at the Advanced level. However, to see clients that have health savings accounts ), volunteers need to take an additional course relating to HSAs. Since HSA accounts are becoming increasingly more common, being certified in HSA is increasingly important for volunteer tax preparers. However, this certification requirement frequently leads to additional confusion in practice as the site coordinators need to keep careful track of which of their volunteers for that day can see clients with HSA accounts. This leads to overall slower return processing as the site coordinators try to determine who can see these clients.

Goal Statement:

To improve the efficiency of VITA to handle clients with HSA accounts and thereby process more returns quicker and more accurately.

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status:

Awaiting Response

Toll-Free Phone Line

Issue 40706

800 Numbers

Why it matters

Issue Statement:

Investigate why the IRS only lists a single 800 number for individual taxpayers to call on its website (www.irs.gov), 1-800-829-1040. Our understanding is that other 800 numbers are only published to taxpayers through IRS notices and other limited distribution channels. We suggest that additional 800 numbers be added to the “individuals” help section of irs.gov.

Goal Statement:

To increase customer satisfaction and decrease their call time by displaying the IRS’ top 5 dialed/transferred 800 numbers on the “individuals” help section of irs.gov.

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status:

TAP Reviewing IRS Response

Notices & Correspondence Committee

Issue 40907

CP Notices: 04; 515IMF; 518BMF

Why it matters

Project Statement:

Improve Office of Tax Correspondence (OTC) CP Notices. The Office of OTC is responsible for creating and designing over 400 CP Notices. CP Notices are tax account related, public-use correspondence created as a result of an account related activity or condition.

Goal Statement:

CP Notices are sometimes hard to understand and make it harder for taxpayers to comply with tax law. OTC requests the TAP Committee to review a category of notices and provide specific comments on how to improve notices.

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status:

Elevated to IRS

Special Projects Committee

Issue 41230

Foreign Trusts IRS Penalty Notices For Late Forms

Why it matters

Issue Statement:

IRS instructions are unclear regarding the due date of substitute Form 3520-A. As a result taxpayers are being charged penalties for failure to file.

Goal Statement:

To correct IRS instructions to clarify the due date of substitute Form 3520-A.

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status:

Monitoring IRS Action

Tax Forms & Publications Committee

Issue 41347

Form 965, schedules A & B

Why it matters

Project Statement:

Determine if Form 965 and Instructions clearly communicates appropriate guidance to the public.

Goal Statement:

The goal of this project is to review Form 965 and Instructions and make recommendations to the IRS that will enhance customer service and improve the taxpayer’s experience.

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status:

TAP Reviewing IRS Response

Tax Forms & Publications Committee

Issue 40751

TAP 2019 F1040 Parent Project

Why it matters

Project Statement:

Determine if the Form 1040: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return clearly communicates appropriate guidance to the public.

Goal Statement:

The goal of this project is to review and make recommendations to the IRS that will enhance customer service and improve the taxpayer’s experience.

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status:

TAP Reviewing IRS Response

Toll-Free Phone Line

Issue 40707

Improve International Access to the IRS

Why it matters

Issue or Project Statement:

International Taxpayers should not have to experience significant cost to get help from the IRS. As of now there is only one phone number (not toll free) listed for international taxpayers to get help from the IRS. This puts the burden of cost to get help on the taxpayer, and depending on the amount of calls and time, the cost could be substantial. It also could be a deterrent for a taxpayer to be compliant with their taxes.

Project Goal Statement:

Improve access and provide lower cost for international taxpayers to contact the IRS.

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Tax Forms & Publications Committee

Issue 41167

Retirement Topics 401K Contribution limits

Why it matters

Project Statement:

Review the examples 1 and 2 shown on page 3 under the heading Overall Limit on Contributions, of the informational topic regarding 401(k) Profit-Share Plan Contribution Limits posted on the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participantemployee/retirement-topics-401k-and-profit-sharing-plancontribution-limits to determine if it is accurate and clearly explains the limitations.

Goal Statement:

The goal of this project is to review and make recommendations to the IRS that will enhance customer service, improve the taxpayers’ experience, and insure accurate information if being provided. Evaluation of the examples provided regarding 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan Contributions Limits are correct and clearly explains the contributions limits.

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status:

TAP Reviewing IRS Response

Toll-Free Phone Line

Issue 41100

Add Prompt to Practitioner’s Line for POA

Why it matters

Issue Statement:

Announcement for practitioners checking status of POAs for clients

Goal Statement:

Save time for practitioners through reminders on how to check status of a form 2848 Power of Attorney

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status:

TAP Reviewing IRS Response

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Current Report

2022 TAP Annual Report

The 2022 TAP Annual Report highlights our key recommendations to improve IRS customer service and summarizes our key accomplishments and activities, including the 201 recommendations submitted to the IRS in 2022.

2022 TAP Annual Report

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The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel

(TAP) has forwarded more than 2,039 recommendations to the IRS. Our volunteer members act as a two-way channel between the IRS and the general public to listen to taxpayers, identify issues, submit recommendations, resolve problems, and monitor progress in implementing and maintaining solutions.

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