FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 2, 1997 Contact: Lisa McHenry (202) 225-7004

IRS COMMISSION TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING PRACTICES, AND THE TAX GAP

Washington, D.C. - The National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service will conduct a two-day public meeting on January 8 and 9, 1997, in room 2168 Rayburn House Office Building, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on both days. The Commission is jointly chaired by Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Nebraska) and Congressman Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

The January 8 meeting will focus on IRS services relating to taxpayer assistance: the role of the taxpayer advocate and problem resolution officers, taxpayer inquiries for technical assistance and account management, and non-tax functions performed by the IRS. Those testifying on January 8 include:

Non-Tax Functions

Robert J. Carver, Former IRS Executive Officer for Service Center Operations

James McGovern, Former IRS Asst. Comm. for Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations

Don Lubick, Department of Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy

Taxpayer Inquiries

Hobart Harris, Principal, Ernst & Young (specializing in Reengineering Call Centers)

Robert E. Barr, Vice President of Government Programs, Intuit

J. Ron Watson, IRS Assistant Commissioner for Customer Service

Role of Taxpayer Advocate and Problem Resolution Officers

Linda Martin, Senior Manager, Deloitte & Touche and former IRS National Director of Problem Resolution Staff

Roger Harris, National Society of Accountants

Rena Girinakis, IRS Problem Resolution Officer for Indiana District

The January 9 meeting will concentrate on financial accounting practices at the IRS, the geographic allocation of IRS resources, and the tax gap. Witnesses on January 9 will be:

Financial Accounting

Greg Holloway, Director, Civil Audits, GAO

Anthony Musick, IRS Chief Financial Officer

Geographic Allocation of IRS Resources and Personnel

Professor Susan Long, TRAC Studies, Syracuse University

Wayne Thomas, IRS National Director of Compliance Research

The Numbers: Tax Gap, Accounts Receivable, and Non-Filers

Professor Susan Long, TRAC Studies, Syracuse University

Dr. Berdj Kenadjian, former IRS Chief Economist (Compliance Estimates)

Lynda Willis, Director Tax Policy and Administration Issues, GAO

Wayne Thomas, IRS National Director of Compliance Research