IR-2012-2, Jan. 5, 2012 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 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 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 1314 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20224 Individuals interested in volunteering to serve on the TAP for 2013 may submit an application via the website during the next open recruiting period, which will begin in March 2012. A list of the new TAP members by state is included below. Last Name First Name City State Armstrong Kenneth Kalispell MT Bentley Susan Kihei HI Brayton William Sheridan WY Chivers Laurie Dalton MA Christopher William Winchester KY Chulick Eugene Dayton NV Colby Lucy Arlington VA Dell Jack Hayden ID George Philip Cos Cob CT Goldberg Allan Hunter NY Gross Robert Montpelier VT Klug Terri West Jordan UT McCrumb Barbara Newark DE Mikhail Boris Lindenhurst NY Patton Susan Lucinda PA Pinilis Russell Montclair NJ Powers Clarke Warrenton OR Ralph Thomas Webster MA Rodriguez Luis Forest Hills NY Santini Hector Ponce PR Sorich Samuel El Dorado Hills CA Sykes Edward Rose Hill KS Tuchi Ben Tucson AZ Wells Gary Anchorage AK Wolfsohn Jonathan East Rockaway NY Zachery Martha Inver Grove Heights MN Follow the IRS on New Media Subscribe to IRS Newswire
