IRS Seeks Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) March 10, 2015 -- Beginning March 9, 2015, the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is seeking civic-minded individuals to apply to become members of this federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies major taxpayer concerns, and makes recommendations for improving IRS service. TAP reports annually to the Secretary of the Treasury, the IRS Commissioner and the National Taxpayer Advocate.
“In trying to comply with an increasingly complex tax system, taxpayers may find they need different services than the IRS is currently providing,” said Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate. “The TAP is vital because it provides the IRS with the taxpayers’ perspective as well as recommendations for improvement. This helps the IRS deliver the best possible service to assist taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations.”
TAP includes members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in addition to one member abroad representing international taxpayers. Each member is appointed to represent the interests of taxpayers in his or her geographic location as well as taxpayers as a whole.
To be a TAP member you must be a U.S. citizen, be current with your federal tax obligations, be able to commit 200 to 300 volunteer hours during the year and pass a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check. New TAP members will serve a three-year term starting in December 2015. Applicants chosen as alternate members will be considered to fill any vacancies that open in their areas during the next three years.
TAP is seeking members in the following locations: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
The panel needs alternates in the following locations: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Federal advisory committees are required to have a fairly balanced membership in terms of the points of view represented. As such, candidates from underrepresented groups, Native Americans and nontax professionals are encouraged to apply.
Applications for TAP will be accepted through April 20, 2015. You may apply online at http://www.usajobs.gov. For additional information about the TAP or the application process, you may visit http://www.improveirs.org or call 888-912-1227 (a toll-free call) and select prompt number five. You may also contact the TAP staff at taxpayeradvocacypanel(at)irs(dot)gov for assistance.
Lisa Billups, Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, (888) 912-1227, [email protected]
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