MEDIA RELEASE

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the selection of 26 new members to serve on the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP).

The Hawaii representative is Susan Bentley of Kihei, Maui.

The TAP is a federal advisory committee charged with providing direct taxpayer feedback to the IRS.

The new TAP members will join 56 returning members to round out the panel of 82 volunteers for 2012. The new members were selected from more than 400 interested individuals from across the country who applied during an open recruitment period last spring.

“TAP members play an important role for the nation’s taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “The panelists provide the IRS with insights that help make the tax administration process better for all taxpayers.”

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 make recommendations to avoid future problems.

“It is extremely important that the IRS consider 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 300 to 500 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 visiting www.improveirs.org

Taxpayers can also send written correspondence to the TAP at the following address:

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)
TA: TAP, Room 1314
1111 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20224

Individuals interested in volunteering to serve on the TAP for 2013 may submit an application in March at www.improveirs.org