IR-2011-18, Feb. 18, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the selection of 32 new members to serve on the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. The TAP is a federal advisory committee charged with providing direct taxpayer feedback to the IRS.
The new TAP members will join 70 returning members to round out the panel of 102 volunteers for 2011. The new members were selected from more than 500 interested individuals from all over the country who applied during an open recruitment period last spring.
"TAP members represent the nation’s taxpayers, both in what they want and what they need," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "They provide the IRS with invaluable insights to ensure that the taxpaying public has a voice in the tax administration process. "
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, along with recommendations for improvement.
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 2012 may submit an application via the website www.improveirs.org during the next open recruiting period, which will begin in March 2011.
A list of the new TAP members by state is included below.

New Taxpayer Advocate Members


Last Name


First Name


City


State


Acero


Antonio


Myrtle Beach


SC


Baldwin


Barbara


Auburn


CA


Bekolo


Paulette Germain


Chapel Hill


NC


Bilancia


Richard


Loveland


CO


Brandewie


Shaun


Sidney


OH


Davine


Jeffrey


Los Angeles


CA


DelTergo


Michael


Westfield


NJ


Eng


Harry


St. Charles


IL


Fisher


Aileen


Burlingame


CA


Fishman


Annie


Rockwall


TX


Hayden


Robert


Monroe


MI


Hitchcock


Colleen


Lacey


WA


Janci


Gerald


Pittsboro


MS


Kalimeris


Angeliki


Woonsocket


RI


Kelly


Eileen


Wilmette


IL


Kendall


Edith


Marion


IA


Kennerty


Michael


Lawrenceville


GA


Levine


David


Reno


NV


Marshalek


Mark


Powell


OH


McPeak


Catherine


Plano


TX


Palmer


George


McLoud


OK


Perez


Santa


Las Vegas


NV


Petersen-Grosse


Chris


Elkhart


IN


Purkayastha


PK


Saline


MI


Rible


Robert


Santa Cruz


CA


Roy


Brian


Nashua


NH


Silva


Michael


North East


MD


Smith


Toni


Omaha


NE


Webster


Walter


Dauphin


PA


Wechter


Thomas


Glencoe


IL


Williams


Cindi


Summerset


SD


Wongshue


Lina


Orlando


FL

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