[Federal Register: August 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 155)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43232-43233]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au98-98]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

 
IRS Citizen Advocacy Panel Notice

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service, Treasury.

ACTION: IRS Citizen Advocacy Panel; Notice of Solicitation of Panel 
Members for the Brooklyn, Midwest and Pacific-Northwest Tax Districts.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Treasury is establishing IRS Citizen 
Advocacy Panels to provide independent monitoring of the quality of IRS 
customer service and to make recommendations to improve that service 
throughout the country.

DATES: Applications will be accepted from June 23 until September 11, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications can be obtained by calling the following toll-
free number: 1-888-449-1071.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the establishment 
and selection of the IRS Brooklyn, Midwest or Pacific Northwest Citizen 
Advocacy Panels may be directed to Michael Lewis, Director, IRS Citizen 
Advocacy Panel, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Management and 
Chief Financial Officer, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, N.W., Room 2421, Washington, DC 20220, (202) 622-3068.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The first Citizen Advocacy Panel (CAP) was 
established in the South Florida Tax District on June 23, 1998. The 
next Citizen Advocacy Panels will be formed in the Brooklyn, Midwest 
and Pacific-Northwest Tax Districts. An

[[Page 43233]]

independent consulting firm, Booz Allen and Hamilton, Inc., is 
accepting applications for membership for these next three Panels 
between June 23 and September 11, 1998. The panels will be operational 
in the late Fall of 1998.
    The mission of the Panels is to provide citizen input into 
enhancing IRS customer service by identifying problems and making 
recommendations for improvement with ``IRS systems and procedures''; 
elevate the identified problems to the appropriate IRS official and 
monitor the progress to effect change; and refer individual taxpayers 
to the appropriate IRS office for assistance in resolving their 
problems. The Panels will consist of 7-12 volunteer members who serve 
at the pleasure of the Secretary of Treasury and will function solely 
as advisory bodies.
    The Panels are seeking applicants who have an interest in good 
government, a personal commitment to volunteer approximately 100 hours 
a year, and a desire to help improve IRS customer service. To the 
extent possible, the IRS would like to ensure a balanced Panel 
membership representing a cross-section of the tax paying public in the 
each of the Tax Districts. Potential candidates must be US citizens, 
legal residents one of the Tax Districts, compliant with Federal, State 
and Local taxes, and pass an FBI background check.
    For the Citizen Advocacy Panels to be most effective, members 
should have experience in some of the following areas: experience 
helping people resolve problems with a government organization; 
experience formulating and presenting proposals; knowledge of taxpayer 
concerns; experience representing the interests of your community, 
state or region; experience working with people from diverse 
backgrounds; and experience helping people resolve disputes.
    Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., will manage the selection process. 
Interested applicants should first call the following toll free number, 
1-888-449-1071, and complete the initial phone screen. If the applicant 
passes the phone screen and is still interested, an application package 
will be sent to them directly. Completed applications will be reviewed, 
tax background checks and FBI name checks will be conducted, and panel 
interviews will be conducted with the most qualified candidates. Final 
candidates will be ranked by experience and suitability and then the 
Secretary of Treasury will review the recommended candidates and make 
final selections.
    The Brooklyn Tax District consists of the New York State counties 
of Kings (Borough of Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. The Midwest 
Tax District includes the states of Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The 
Pacific Northwest Tax District includes the states of Alaska, Hawaii, 
Oregon and Washington.

    Dated: August 6, 1998.
Cathy VanHorn,
CAP Project Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-21558 Filed 8-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P