YORK -- A Maine man was recently selected by the Treasury Department to serve on the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a Federal Advisory Committee charged with providing direct taxpayer input to the IRS. Panel members listen to taxpayers, identify issues and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction.

Robert Yandow, a resident of York, Maine, is one of 98 volunteers serving on the panel. He will represent local taxpayers as well as work on national issues.  The new panel members will join 57 returning members to round out the panel of 98 volunteers for 2008. The new members were selected from over 400 interested individuals from all over the country, who applied through an open recruitment period last spring.

The mission of the panel is to listen to taxpayers, identify issues, and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. The volunteer members provide a taxpayer’s perspective on critical tax administration programs and help the IRS identify ways to improve customer service. Oversight and program support for the TAP are the responsibility of the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS that helps resolve taxpayer problems and recommends changes that will prevent problems.

Panel members will work with IRS executives on priority topics - primarily those involving the Wage and Investment and Small Business/Self Employed divisions. Members also serve as a conduit for grassroots issues from the public and forward taxpayers’ issues and concerns to the IRS with recommendations for improvement.

"The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel members provide a valuable voice and help improve processes within the IRS," said Acting IRS Commissioner Linda Stiff. "Serving their country with tax administration advice is an excellent example of volunteers making a difference in America."

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. Panel members come from all walks of life with balanced representation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Taxpayers can contact their state’s representative to the Panel by calling 1-888-912-1227 or via the internet at www.improveirs.org. Taxpayers can also write to the Panel and mail correspondence to:

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)
TA: TAP Room 1314 
1111 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20224

Individuals interested in volunteering to serve on the panel may submit an application via the web site www.improveirs.org during the next open recruiting period beginning in March 2008.