Stacie's Tax Stuff

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is opening the nomination process for membership on the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC). The deadline for submitting applications is April 1.

ETAAC was established as required by the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. The purpose of the ETAAC is to provide continued input into the development and implementation of the agency’s strategy for electronic tax administration as well as to provide an organized public forum for the discussion of issues in electronic tax administration.

Nominations of qualified individuals may be made by letter and received from individuals or professional associations. A complete application package includes a nomination, ETAAC application, a short statement of interest and a resume. The application should describe and document the proposed member’s qualifications, past and current affiliations and/or dealings in electronic tax administration. A notice published in the Federal Register dated Feb. 14, 2013, contains more details about the ETAAC and the application process.

Members are approved by Treasury to serve three-year terms, beginning in the fall of 2013. Members must pass an IRS tax compliance check and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background investigation and may not be federally registered lobbyists.

Questions about the application process can be sent to etaac@irs.gov.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today announced the selection of 26 new members to serve on the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP). The TAP is a federal advisory committee charged with providing taxpayer suggestions to improve IRS customer service.

The new TAP members will join 51 returning members to round out the panel of 77 volunteers for 2013. The new members were selected from almost 400 interested individuals from across the country who applied during an open recruitment period last spring or the pool of alternate members who applied in prior years.

“TAP members provide an important voice for taxpayers and provide valuable insights to help run the nation’s tax administration system,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller.

The TAP listens to taxpayers, identifies issues and makes suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. Oversight and program support for the TAP are provided by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS that helps resolve taxpayer problems and makes recommendations to avoid future problems.

“It is critical that the IRS listen to the needs and preferences of America’s taxpayers,” said Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate. “The vital work of these citizen volunteers helps the IRS provide all taxpayers with the top-quality service they deserve.”

TAP members work with IRS executives on priority topics, primarily those involving the Wage & Investment and Small Business/Self-Employed operating divisions. Members also serve as a conduit for bringing grassroots concerns raised by the taxpaying public to the attention of the IRS.

TAP members are U.S. citizens who volunteer to serve a three-year appointment and are expected to devote 200 to 300 hours per year to panel activities. TAP members are demographically and geographically diverse, providing balanced representation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Taxpayers can contact the TAP representative for their geographic area by calling 888-912-1227 (a toll-free call) or via the Internet at www.improveirs.org. Taxpayers can also send written correspondence to the TAP at the following address:

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)

TA: TAP, Room 1509

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C.  20224

Individuals interested in volunteering to serve on the TAP for 2014 may submit an application via the website www.improveirs.org during the next open recruiting period, which will begin in late Februray 2013.

A list of the new TAP members by location is included below.