If you would like more information about this meeting, please contact Henry Martinez at (512) or at

Transcription

1 May 22, 2013 Texas Practitioner Liaison Meeting Austin, Texas Time: 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Attendees: Practitioner Representatives Carmen Garza, National Association of Tax Professionals Donna Shook, National Association of Tax Professionals Jackie Rollins, Capital of Texas Enrolled Agents Karen Coombes, National Association of Tax Professionals Lloyd Thelemann, Texas Association of Financial and Tax Specialists Steven Bankler, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Susan Graham, Texas Society of Enrolled Agents Valorie Paugh, Texas Society of Enrolled Agents Christi Mondrik (Sub), State Bar of Texas IRS Representatives Evelyn Dyson Lee, Acting Manager, Southwest Area Stakeholder Liaison Field Division (virtually) Henry Martinez, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Southwest Area Stakeholder Liaison Field Juan Rolon, Local Field Taxpayer Advocate, Austin, TX Nancy Farthing, Local Taxpayer Advocate, Austin Campus Michael Simmons, CPA-San Antonio IRS Examination Manager (virtually) Stephen P. Lacey, Appeals Team Manager, Austin Office of Appeals Martha Boykin, Stakeholder Liaison, Southwest Area Stakeholder Liaison Field (virtually) If you would like more information about this meeting, please contact Henry Martinez at (512) or at Meeting Summary Juan Rolon & Nancy Farthing, Local Field Taxpayer Advocate (Austin) & Local Taxpayer Advocate (Austin Campus) Juan and Nancy conducted a dialogue session with the practitioners. They both listened to issues/concerns and provided the Advocate s perspective on current hot issues they are seeing in their areas. Martha Boykin, Stakeholder Liaison (virtually) discussed the Issue Management Resolution System (IMRS). Using a PowerPoint presentation Martha provided information on the following: What is IMRS?

2 Issue Submissions & Elevating Issues Issue Responses & Resolutions Identified Trends Authorizations and Powers of Attorney Automated Underreporter Correspondence Exam & CP Notices Collector Issues Searching IMRS on IRS.gov Michael Simmons, CPA-San Antonio Examination Territory Manager (virtually) Using a PowerPoint Michael s presentation included the following: Types of compliance visits & why compliance visits are conducted ERO Visits & ERO Penalties Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) & CAA visits Certified Agent Acceptance Requirements & CAA Penalties plus Updates Return Preparer E-file Visits & What happens during an e-file visit RPVP Visits EITC Due Diligence & Requirements Pre-EITC Requirements Real-Time EITC IRS Section 6695 Penalty for Non-Compliance Due Diligence Penalties Loving vs. IRS Court Ruling Updates IRS Furlough Days Henry Martinez, Senior Stakeholder Liaison discussed new and updated products. Henry went over Current News that included the following: IRS 2013 Nationwide Tax Forum locations and dates o Orlando, Florida July 9 thru July 11 o Grapevine, Texas July 30 thru August 1 o New Orleans, LA August 13 thru August 15 o Atlanta, GA August 20 thru August 22 o National Harbor (DC) August 27 thru August 29 o San Diego, CA September 17, thru September Regional Practitioner Meetings o El Paso, Texas August 7, 2013 o Beaumont, Texas August 13, 2013 o Amarillo, Texas August 13, 2013 o Huntsville, Texas August 15, 2013 o Houston, Texas August 21, 2013 o Corpus Christi, Texas August 27, 2013 o Edinburg, Texas August 29, 2013 RPM Topic: Identity Theft Efforts and 2013 Filing Season Improvements Fresh Start Automated Underreporter Program Cyber Security for Tax Practitioners 2

3 Like Kind Exchanges Decedents, Final Returns and fiduciary Returns Sale of Business Assets IRS Furloughs Current Dates: o May 24, 2013 o June 14, 2013 o July 5, 2013 o July 22, 2013 o August 30, 2013 First Friday s Where s My Amended Return? Issues & Status Issue Practitioner indicated they are consistently being kicked out of the Practitioner Priority Service line. Issue Status Report Open. Open issue already in the IMRS system and being worked. Issue Inconsistent and conflicting information on what needs to be on a Power of Attorney form specifically when it involves separate Form 1040 assessments. Issue Status Report Closed. Practitioner is to send the specifics to SL Martha Boykin via since this is an intricate issue. SL Martha Boykin will respond to her issue. Issue- Practitioners are experiencing long wait times on the Practitioner Priority Service Line (PPS). Issue Status Report Closed. This issue has surfaced before. SSL Henry Martinez will research the IMRS database and provide a response. This action has been completed. SSL Henry Martinez researched IMRS and provided a response as to which day of the week and time of day is best to call PPS. Issue Practitioner has been receiving inconsistent responses regarding call backs from IRS assistors. Practitioner is asked for a call back number just in case the call is dropped and sometimes she does receive a call back and other times she does not. What is the IRS Policy? Issue Status Report Open. Issue is currently being worked. Issue Practitioners would like the Enterprise e-fax number for the SWA Group members. 3

4 Issue Status Report Closed. SSL Henry Martinez did some research and provided the Enterprise e-fax numbers for the SWA group members to the participants. This action has been completed. Issue Practitioners would like the latest information regarding procedures for eligible taxpayers and original documents being certified by Certifying Acceptance Agents (CAA). Issue Status Report Open. This issue is being researched. Issue Practitioner indicates the Where s My Amended Return? online tool not working as it only works for some amended tax returns. Issue Status Report Closed. There is a note on the application web page indicating You will not be able to access certain amended returns using this application. No further action required. Issue Why is IRS using e-fax but will not communicate via ? What is the security difference as both involve technology? Issue Status Report Open. This issue is being researched. Issue A separate identifying code should be input on taxpayer accounts under audit reconsideration when a Form 1040X is filed. Issue Status Report Open and being worked. Roundtable & Comments Practitioners like the information presented at these meetings. They expressed the need to continue these meetings on a face-to-face basis. There is a net working benefit not only with IRS representatives but also with their colleagues. If these meetings were held totally virtually they would not work as they would be subject to interruptions in their respective office locations. They value these meetings and would like to see them continue on a face-to-face basis. Two Stakeholder Liaison employees should be attending these events. This would help deal with technology and other issues that surface during the meetings. Examination Territory Manager is currently not authorized to travel. He therefore, offered use of space at the North IRS office for future meetings. This is a good suggestion but SL representatives are not authorized to travel to the North Austin office. Regardless this is something to consider for future meetings. Next Scheduled Meeting 4

5 The next meeting date is set for November 13, 2013 (Wednesday) in Austin, Texas. If you have suggestions for topics, please forward them to Henry Martinez. 5