The Internal Revenue Service has started opening up talks to the public and to tax professionals specifically in a series of public forums at which individuals and representatives of all the different constituent groups will be able to provide their own input on the development of tax preparer performance standards. This is your chance to be part of something that will affect tax preparation procedures for the future so here is your chance to get things straight – or at least on record that you want it straightened out.
The public forums were planned and the implementation process was started back in June by IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman to help ensure tax preparers are qualified, ethical and provide a high level of service.
The kick off for the program should be on July 30 in Washington, D.C. so you can look for more information there as well.
To quote Mr. Shulman:
“These public meetings will be an important part of the dialogue as we move toward a set of comprehensive recommendations by the end of this year,” Shulman said. “We want an open discussion on how to strengthen the overall integrity of our tax system.”
Two panels are scheduled for a forum on July 30. The first panel will give consumer groups an opportunity to provide recommendations. These groups include the AARP, Consumer Federation of America, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, National Community Tax Coalition and Low Income Tax Clinics. The chances are that if you are a member of one of these groups that you might want to get your organization representative notification of the questions that you want to ask and what kind of standards that you are looking for in a tax pro.
The second panel will be made up of tax professional groups, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Tax Professionals and the National Society of Accountants. I can’t help but think that this group might make things limiting and make it an accountants only club but I suspect that since the IRS needs a lot of trained, ethical and talented tax professionals to replace the average bunch of tax guys out there there will be some great suggestions from this group as well.
The two panels will take place at the Ronald Reagan Building amphitheater in Washington starting at 9 a.m. on July 30. People interested in attending should confirm attendance by sending an e-mail message to: CL.NPL.Communications@irs.gov.
The IRS also plans to convene meetings with other constituent groups later this summer and fall. Input will be sought from:
Federal and state organizations
IRS advisory groups, including the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC), the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC), the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC), the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) and the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT)
Unaffiliated and individual tax preparers and groups
Private firms that support tax preparers
The dates and locations of these meetings will be announced as they become available. Small groups of tax preparers will also have the opportunity this summer to meet with IRS representatives to present their ideas at the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums.
The Nationwide Tax Forums this year include: Orlando, Aug. 4-6; New York, Aug. 25-27; Dallas, Sept. 8-10; and Atlanta, Sept. 22-24.
If there is anything else you are interested about the program, drop them an email.
So this is your chance to actually get some input into the tax system at a basic level, people. Do yourself a favor and if you have the time please go out and be vocal about what you are looking for in a tax pro.
Hope you are also current with your taxes and don’t forget that the next quarterly taxes are going to be coming due in a few months. It also isn’t too late to adjust your taxes that are being withheld from work to correct for any changes that you may have in either having hours cut or hopefully making more money-in either case, you do want to review that you are having enough money taken out for taxes and in some cases, make sure that you aren’t having way too much dinged from your paycheck.
Have a great day, gang.
July 23 2009
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Kim Isaac Greenblatt
IRS Wants Your Input For Tax Professionals