FYI: IRS Issue Management Resoluction System (IMRS) Thursday Call May 22, 2014 8:30-9:00 a.m.

Hello Everyone,


Our Western Area Issue Management Resolution (IMRS) Adjunct Analyst has recently started "IMRS Monthly Calls" where on the fourth Thursday of each month the IMRS Adjunct Analyst holds a brief 30 minute meeting via WebInterpoint (a webinar type technology) and AT&T conference call to share some information about IMRS including the IMRS "Hot Issues Report", etc. The Adjunct Analyst then opens the discussion to see if any practitioners have noticed any possible systemic issues having to do with federal tax policies, practices and/or procedures. One of the main goals of IMRS is to identify these systemic issues so we can make Headquarters aware of them, and hopefully get them resolved: (Decrease taxpayer burden and in turn hopefully increase voluntary compliance).

The next IMRS call will be this Thursday (5/22) from 8:30 - 9:00 am. Please see attached flyer for additional information including the AT&T conference call-in number and access code. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.


Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #94-07690
Stakeholder Liaison Specialist
Communications Stakeholder Outreach
510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434
Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov


-----Original Message-----
From: Lauridsen Regina M
Subject: FW: IMRS Fourth Thursday Call May 22, 2014 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Importance: High

Hi All

Would you be so kind as to forward this invitation to your practitioners!
Please remind the practitioners
If they are unable to attend the call, they can feel free to invite a fellow practitioner or member of their practitioner organization to attend. If they have a potential IMRS issue, they can also email the issue to you or to Regina.M.Lauridsen@irs.gov for review. We will mention the issue/concern on the call and solicit feedback from other practitioner participants.

We appreciate your help and thank you in advance. Have a great day!


Gina

Regina M. Lauridsen
San Diego Federal Courthouse
Internal Revenue Service/SBSE Stakeholder Liaison
333 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101

Tel: 619-615-7768
Fax 619 615 3724

FYI: IRS News & Events from Stakeholder Liaison (4-10-2014)

Hello Everyone,

Hope all is going well with you!

Attached above is, "IRS News & Events from Stakeholder Liaison" for April 10, 2014. Please share this information with your colleagues.

Have a great day, and a very successful filing season!

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #94-07690
Stakeholder Liaison Specialist
Communications Stakeholder Outreach
510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434
Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

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FYI: IRS Seeks Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) - Deadline 4-11-2014

Hello Everyone,

 

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is inviting civic-minded individuals to apply to become members of a dynamic volunteer organization whose mission is to improve the IRS.  This year's application period is open from March 7 - April 11, 2014.  Please see above attached IRS News Release, "IRS Seeks Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel" and below for additional information.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

TAP – Who We Are

 

TAP is a Federal Advisory Committee established under the authority of the Department of the Treasury, to allow citizens the opportunity to participate in improving the federal tax administration system by providing direct input to the IRS.

 

The Panel is comprised of a diverse body of 75 citizens from all economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and international taxpayers.

 

TAP – What We Do

 

The mission of the TAP is to listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayers’ issues, and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. The TAP is a national forum for taxpayers to make their voices heard and to help identify “grass roots” tax issues of importance to taxpayers. Tax experience is not a requirement to serve on the TAP.

 

The TAP works with the Taxpayer Advocate Service and the IRS operating divisions to identify issues that will benefit from citizen input. The operating divisions utilize the TAP to obtain input and recommendations regarding tax products and services or program changes that affect taxpayers. 

 

Panel members serve on a project subcommittee; participate in meetings and focus groups; solicit citizen comments and suggestions; and identify, prioritize, and elevate taxpayer issues and recommendations to the IRS. Outreach to the public is vitally important to the success of the TAP.  Members are expected to identify and participate in various outreach activities to solicit input from taxpayers about IRS products and services.  Individuals selected to become Panel members will participate in a New Member Orientation in December, 2014.

 

Recruitment Campaign

 

This year TAP is accepting applications to fill member and alternate vacancies from individuals who reside in the locations listed below. In addition, the TAP is seeking to include at least one member representing international taxpayers.  For these purposes, “international taxpayers” are broadly defined to include U.S. citizens working, living, or doing business abroad or in a U.S. territory.  [Note: this international member will not be required to attend any face-to-face meetings.]  Each member is appointed to represent the interests of taxpayers in their geographic location as well as the interests of the general taxpayer population as a whole.

 

Applicants selected from these locations will serve a three-year membership term beginning in December 2014, or be chosen as an alternate member to be considered for membership if a vacancy occurs in their state during the next three years.

 

Member and Alternate Vacancies

 

Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and International.

 

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

Applicants must:

 

• Be a U.S.citizen;
• Be current with all Federal tax obligations;
• Pass an FBI criminal background check;
• Be willing to commit approximately 200 – 300 volunteer hours per year to Panel activities; and
• Not be a current Treasury or IRS employee or have worked for Treasury or the IRS within the past three years.

 

How to Apply

 

·        Complete and submit an application online at www.improveirs.org.

·        All applications must be received no later than April 11, 2014.

 

How We Select Panel Members

 

·        A team composed of IRS professionals will review applications and rank candidates by experience and suitability. (April 2014)

·        The most qualified candidates will be interviewed by a team of IRS professionals and current TAP members. (May 2014)

·        Tax and FBI background checks will be conducted. (May – July 2014)

·        The Department of the Treasury will review the recommended candidates and make final selections. (October 2014)

 

Federal advisory committees are required to have a fairly balanced membership in terms of the points of view represented.  As such, special consideration will be given to applicants from underrepresented groups, such as U.S. taxpayers living abroad, Native Americans and non-tax practitioners.

 

For additional information about TAP or the application process, please call

1-888-912-1227 and choose prompt number five.  Callers who are outside of the U.S. and U.S. territories should call 954-423-7973 (not a toll-free call).  You may also contact the TAP staff at taxpayeradvocacypanel@irs.gov for assistance.

 

Please share this information with your colleagues.  Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #94-07690

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

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FYI: ID Theft Webinar on Jan 30 (No CE Credit)

Hello Everyone,

 

The following webinar on Identity Theft is being offered on January 30, 2014 from 11:00 am - 12:00 (PST).

Please see below flyer for information. (The PDF version of the flyer is also attached above). 

 

Note:  No Continuing Education Credit is being offered for this particular webinar.

 

 

 

 

 

presents

 

Combating Identity Theft:  Working with the Internal Revenue Service to Reduce Your Clients’ Risk

 

Thursday, January 30, 2014

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PST

 

Just in time for the 2014 Filing Season!!!

 

The IRS Western Area Stakeholder Liaison Office invites California, Hawaii and Nevada tax professionals to a one-hour webinar covering the Internal Revenue Service’s Identity Theft Program.  Justin McCarty, a subject matter expert in the IRS Office of Identity Protection, will cover what the Service does to prevent fraudulent refunds, how the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number program (IP PIN) works, and what you can do to protect your clients. 

 

To attend:

• Register by sending an email to:  sl.western@irs.gov, with “ID Theft Webinar Registration” in the subject line.  No other information than your email address is required.
• Click on this link not earlier than 10:45 a.m. PST to attend the webinar: http://www.infiniteconferencing.com/Events/IRS/index.html?schedid=87105405. 

§         Ensure your browser’s cookies and scripting are enabled, and your browser’s pop-up blocker is disabled.  

• Enter the required participant information. 

§         Participant Code 87105405 should be pre-populated; if not, fill it in. 

§         Name:  Last, First

§         Company:  Name & Chapter of Practitioner Organization publicizing this webinar.

• Enable your computer speaker and adjust volume.  The webinar audio will be broadcast using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).  You will be prompted (in a pop-up window) to start the Audiocast; click “OK.”  A headset is recommended. 
• Open the Chat Box to ask questions by clicking the bubble symbol near the top right screen.  Select “Q&A Group” in the dropdown menu as the recipient (“To”).

 

Note: Do you require real time closed captioning? Closed captioning displays the words that describe the audio portion of the program for viewers who are deaf or hearing impaired. Captions are available in English only. Contact IRS Stakeholder Liaison at sl.western@irs.gov  by Monday, January 27 for closed captioning, and put “ID Theft Closed Captioning” in the subject line of your message.  

 

Continuing Education Eligibility:  Continuing education credit will not offered for this webinar.

FYI: IRS Exam Appeals Interested in Customer Feedback Conference Call

Hello Everyone,

 

We have received the following request from IRS Appeals:

 

What:            IRS Exam Appeals Update and Customer Feedback Conference Call

 

Request:        Practitioners (Enrolled Agents, CPAs and Attorneys) who have worked with IRS Exam Appeals in the San Francisco Bay                               Area.

                *This will be an informal discussion.

                * Feedback of experiences working with Exam Appeals will be requested from all participants.

 

With Whom:       Patrick McGuire, new Appeals Area Director, San Francisco

                 Delon Harris, Director of Appeals, Field Operations West

 

Date & Time (TBD):  Sometime during week of December 9, 2013.  Call estimated to be approximately 2 hours.

 

 

Please let me know, no later than Wednesday, November 13th, if you meet the criteria and are interested in this opportunity.

 

Please also share this information with your colleagues (so those who meet the criteria and are interested in this opportunity can do likewise).

 

The Appeals Directors will provide more information to those who show interest.  Selection of participants will be made to represent a cross-section of the practitioner community (Enrolled Agents, CPAs and Attorneys).

 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #94-07690

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal