Since its creation, the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) has provided more than 680 recommendations to the IRS to improve taxpayer service and satisfaction with IRS services, procedures and programs. These issues are derived from direct taxpayer feedback and consist of more than 333 recommendations and almost 350 completed projects by TAP Project committees.
After TAP submits a recommendation, IRS program areas review the recommendation and implement it if appropriate and feasible. While the IRS gives serious consideration to TAP recommendations, the IRS is sometimes limited in its ability to implement recommendations due to cost, legislative or regulatory restrictions, a difference in philosophy, or the need to balance relieving taxpayer burdens with their responsibility to efficiently collect proper tax revenues owed.
Results from recommendations submitted in 2010 include:
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Improving signs and visual communications in Taxpayer Assistance Centers;
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Improving the clarity of content in Audit Technique Guides used for various industries and professions;
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Improving the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and promoting Financial Education and Asset Building materials; and
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Improving numerous IRS notices, forms, and publications.
Detailed information about TAP’s recommendations to the IRS in 2010, as well as in previous years, is provided below.
Taxpayer Assistance Center Project Committee Recommendations
2011
In 2011, IRS Field Assistance management requested the Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) Project Committee review the current distribution process of self-service forms and publications in the TACs. The committee visited 28 TACs in 13 states and specifically focused on reviewing distribution processes, offering suggestions on product priorities and defining any new self-service products. Detailed information about the TAC Project Committee’s 15 recommendations to the IRS is below.
2010
In December 2009, IRS Field Assistance management requested the Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) Project Committee review the current signage in the TACs and improve current communication methods. Detailed information about the Project Committee’s recommendations to the IRS is below.
2009
TAC Project Committee recommendations from 2009, focused on improving the tax payment process currently used at TACs, include: