Name it Zoom for enchancment.
The Inner Income Service’s Impartial Workplace of Appeals is inviting enter on finest practices for video conferences with taxpayers and tax professionals.
In the course of the pandemic, Appeals expanded entry to video conferences, and video conferences will stay an choice at the same time as in-person conferences resume.
In March 2021, Appeals issued interim steerage on video conferences, detailing the IRS worker tasks, procedures for verifying approved contributors and know-how conditions. The steerage additionally contains suggestions for an expert assembly setting, akin to lowering background distractions, muting audio when not talking and making certain that Appeals staff’ names are displayed for taxpayers.
As Appeals prepares everlasting tips and updates to the video conferencing know-how (Microsoft Groups), the division needs enter from taxpayers and tax professionals on how video convention know-how can be utilized in an Appeals listening to. Themes of feedback to this point embody:Â
- Video conferences can typically present a greater taxpayer expertise than a phone convention.Â
- Video conferences that permit for display sharing of paperwork can result in a extra complete dialogue of the problems and doubtlessly earlier decision.
- Appeals ought to endeavor to maintain technical necessities for video conferences to a minimal and guarantee different channels for conducting an Appeals convention (akin to in particular person or by phone) stay out there.
Public feedback will be despatched to AP.Taxpayer.Expertise@irs.gov by Wednesday, Nov. 16.
The Appeals workplace resolves federal tax disputes with out litigation and schedules conferences with taxpayers or their consultant; conferences are by phone, video or in particular person. Typically, the taxpayer or their consultant chooses learn how to meet with the workplace.