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 MediaSubscribe to IRS Newswire