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Why it matters

Issue Statement: Determine if the Form 1040-SR: U.S. Tax Return for Seniors 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.

Why it matters

Issue Statement: My personal check for 2016 Tax Return Balance Due cleared my bank. When I looked at the image, the endorsement showed the first 4 letters of my last name and my full social security number. In the age of Identity Theft and the precautions taken by government agencies, I would think this would be a practice that should be discontinued. My recommendation would be to find an alternative method for identifying a check remittance. Perhaps a cross- reference number assigned to the 1040-V and used on the remittance check or some other means. Thank you for listening.

Goal Statement: To determine if the IRS may be putting taxpayers at risk of identity theft by possibly exposing their social security numbers (SSNs).

Why it matters

Project Statement:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.