|
Filing Season Readiness Meeting Feedback (top)
Earlier this month, the Office of Public Liaison and Small
Business Affairs conducted a Filing Season Readiness Meeting
with various practitioner groups. Multimedia Production
Division routinely participates in the meetings to update
the tax professional associations on initiatives for the
upcoming filing season. We were very pleased with the comments
we received from organizations such as H&R Block, National
Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), and National Association
of Tax Practitioners (NATP). The representatives from the
association complimented the efforts surrounding the Tax
Products CD-ROM and the IRS web site; specifically, the
Tax Pro Corner, Small Business Corner, and Taxpayer Special
Alerts. (S. Hedeler 202-622-6615)
Diversity Recruiting On-Line (top)
Last month, the IRS expanded its on-line recruiting program
to advertise IRS jobs via web sites which specifically serve
women, minorities, and people with disabilities. Due to
the success of this pilot outreach, the IRS is extending
our relationship with several of these web sites. (D. Diffee
202-622-3462)
Internet Availability of Low Volume Tax Forms Update (top)
The National Association of Tax Processors has asked the
IRS to consider the feasibility of making additional IRS
forms available on the Internet. A task force of Multimedia
Production Division Interns, CO-OPs and Summer Interns has
researched the 180 forms identified by the tax processors
group and is currently working with originators and printing
specialists to make as many of them as possible available
on the Internet. As of October 19, 1999, the task force
found that 55 of the forms are not suitable for the Internet
(obsolete, internal use only, etc.) or are already available
there. Of the remaining 125 forms, originators have approved
35 for the Internet. Final decisions on the remaining forms
are expected in the next several weeks. (E. Murphy 202-622-1574)
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Products Finalized (top)
The number of EITC products has been pared down considerably--from
more than 40 products last year to 11 products for the year
2000. The design and production is again being contracted
through Emmerling Post. OK-to-Print copies, with supplied
disks, are anticipated by early December to provide delivery
to Area Distribution Centers and taxpayers by December/January.
(S. Manno 202-622-8851)
New TAXi (Tax Interactive) Module "The Real Planet"
Debuts (top)
Tax Interactive is IRS' web site for teens and is part of
the Digital Daily. The new TAXi module is a web talk show
about "teens in business for themselves" and explains planning
and operating a business, with an emphasis on business related
taxes. The module helps teens learn in the same relaxed
and fun style as the other TAXi modules. "The Real Planet"
gives teens a practical introduction to owning a business
and the related tax obligations. (D. Brown 202-622-3222)
New Intranet Web Site Asks IRS Employees to Send their Gripes
(top)
Electronic Information Services Branch (EIS) is pleased
to report that we have completed development of a new Intranet
web site to support the Commissioner's
Complaints Processing & Analysis Group. Too often IRS
employees have had significant issues that need addressing
and have not known exactly where to bring those issues or
they have felt uncomfortable bringing the issues to light
in an open forum. The new web site launched last week helps
steer employees to exactly the right place and allows them
to send their issues (and compliments!) in electronically.
For example, some issues are appropriately handled by labor
relations, others by TIGTA, and some through EEO or another
IRS office.
Recruitment FY 2000 Update (top)
The Eastern Area Distribution Center (EADC) in Richmond
has used several methods to advertise the temporary vacancies
that are available during the filing season. In an effort
to recruit 900 temporary employees to work day and night
shifts, the EADC has placed two banners in the front of
the building and ensured that all current employees were
aware of the recruitment effort by asking them to spread
the word to their families, friends, and organizations.
The employees were also provided with flyers to provide
to their local businesses and organizations. The EADC and
the Richmond Personnel Branch sent numerous letters to large
businesses, churches, organizations, and colleges that included
posters for them to place on bulletin boards. Telephones
calls were made and followed up by a letter and flyer to
several churches known to have a Spanish-speaking congregation
to recruit bi-lingual Order Entry Clerks. A 4" X 5" ad was
placed in the Richmond Times Dispatch. A 3" X 8" full color
ad was prepared and inserted in the local VAL-PAK (coupon
mailout). The ad was distributed to 50,000 households in
September and 50,000 in October. Other methods of advertising
have included airing an ad prepared by the Austin Service
Center on the Richmond local Channel 12 (NBC), during the
afternoon soap opera timeslot and also BLAB TV, a local
cable station. A cell suitable for use in movie theaters
was prepared and is being shown at the Byrd Theater in Richmond.
(S. Ellyson 804-228-3805)
Y2K Roll-Over Weekend During the End Game Process (top)
The 100% code review and End-to-End (E2E)-testing phase
of the Year 2000 (Y2K) process is coming to an end. This
brings us to Roll-Over Weekend (ROW), which is the 8th and
final phase of the Y2K process. ROW is the period between
December 29, 1999 and January 3, 2000. Some activities that
must be completed before ROW include confirmation of: availability
of designated personnel; availability of ROW checklist;
availability of emergency procedures; and test at least
1% of all of Multimedia Production Division's ADP equipment.
These activities will include the three Area Distribution
Centers (ADCs) and two field publishing sites.
Innocent/Injured Spouse Web Application to Debut Next Week
(top)
The Innocent Spouse application is complete, but EIS will
hold launch until next week at the customer's request. Marketing
plans are also finished. A sidebar icon was developed and
will be placed on the Digital Daily. The application will
also be featured on the tax products CD-ROM. The new application
deals with very complex tax law issues. Taxpayers impacted
may qualify for tax relief under a variety of provisions
as an innocent or injured spouse. Specific forms must be
completed for particular types of tax relief. The Innocent
Spouse Project Office examined the submissions for innocent
and injured spouse relief in detail and found that up to
50% were denied. The Project Office needed a way to communicate
to taxpayers and assist them in determining whether they
qualify for relief and the appropriate forms to file. A
several page decision tree was developed to map out the
complexities of the law and an electronic application was
developed. The new application allows taxpayers, with just
a few mouse clicks, to determine whether they qualify for
tax relief and provides the appropriate forms and instructions
to file. Richard Augustine, Program Analyst from the Connecticut-Rhode
Island District, leads this project for Innocent Spouse
and Harriet Leben is the Electronic Information Specialist.
(H. Leben 202-622-3462)
|
