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IRS ANNOUNCES TOLL-FREE WAY TO CONTACT APPEALS OFFICERS.

SEP. 18, 2000

Announcement 2000-80; 2000-2 C.B. 320

DATED SEP. 18, 2000
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Citations: Announcement 2000-80; 2000-2 C.B. 320

Announcement 2000-80

[1] This document informs the public of the new Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach) program. Appeals now has a toll- free number for contacting an Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach) who will provide assistance with an Appeals tax matter. Previously, Announcement 99-98, 1999-42 I.R.B. 520, listed telephone numbers which were not toll-free.

[2] The toll-free number for contacting an Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach) is 1-877-457-5055. The new toll-free system will automatically send the call to the nearest Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach). This new service emphasizes Appeal's commitment to advancing its customer service program under the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105-206, 112 Stat. 685, Appeals Policy Statement P-8-1, and Treasury Directive 63-01.

[3] Appeals presently has an Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach) in each of the thirty-three Appeals Offices nationwide. A list of the office locations appears at the end of this announcement.

[4] The duties of the Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach) include:

     1) Serving as proponents of the Appeals process;

 

 

     2) Providing assistance to taxpayers during their administrative

 

        appeal;

 

 

     3) Handling taxpayers' complaints regarding Appeals;

 

 

     4) Participating in National Problem Solving Days;

 

 

     5) Coordinating with Taxpayer Advocate Service representatives

 

        on Appeals matters;

 

 

     6) Performing Appeals education and outreach with the public, as

 

        well as other IRS functions;

 

 

     7) Ensuring that taxpayer rights are not abridged; and

 

 

     8) Identifying problems and trends, including analyzing customer

 

        survey and balanced measures results.

 

 

[5] The Appeals Officers (Customer Service/Outreach) endorse the Commissioner's concept for modernizing the Internal Revenue Service to focus on:

     1) Service to Each Taxpayer

 

 

     2) Service to All Taxpayers

 

 

     3) Productivity Through a Quality Work Environment

 

 

[6] Please call 1-877-457-5055 whenever you need assistance with an Appeals tax matter.

APPEALS ON THE WORLD-WIDE WEB

[7] For further information on the Appeals organization, visit the recently updated Appeals section of the IRS Web Site at www.irs.gov/prod/ind_info/appeals. Included are links to information on:

     -- APPEALS REDESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT -- An introduction

 

        to the Appeals organization;

 

 

     -- APPEALS EXPECTATIONS-YOURS AND OURS -- A review of mutual

 

        commitments for the Appeals Process;

 

 

     -- ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAMS -- Are you having

 

        trouble resolving your Appeals case?;

 

 

     -- APPEAL RIGHTS -- IRS publications providing detailed

 

        information on what can be appealed;

 

 

     -- APPEALS OFFICER (CUSTOMER SERVICE/OUTREACH) PROGRAM -- How to

 

        contact nationwide Appeals Officers (Customer

 

        Service/Outreach) and their role in the Appeals process;

 

 

     -- OTHER APPEALS PROGRAMS -- Collection Appeals, Innocent

 

        Spouse, Bankruptcy, Offer-In-Compromise, and Industry

 

        Specialization; and

 

 

     -- OTHER SITES -- Various sites and publications including the

 

        new IRS organization, tax law questions, U.S. Tax Court Site,

 

        where to get assistance.

 

 

DRAFTING INFORMATION

[8] The principal author of this announcement is Thomas C. Louthan, Director, Strategic Planning and Communications (Appeals). For further information regarding this announcement contact Mr. Louthan at (202) 694-1842 or Darlene M. Marshall at (202) 694-1875 (not toll-free calls).

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

          Appeals Officer (Customer Service/Outreach) Program

 

                           [Office Location]

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

                   Toll-Free Number: 1-877-457-5055

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

                           NORTHEAST REGION

 

 

      Brooklyn (Hempstead)

 

      Connecticut-Rhode Island (East Hartford)

 

      Manhattan (New York City)

 

      Michigan (Detroit)

 

      New England (Boston)

 

      New Jersey (Newark)

 

      Ohio (Cleveland)

 

      Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)

 

      Upstate New York (Buffalo)

 

 

                           SOUTHEAST REGION

 

 

      Delaware-Maryland (Baltimore)

 

      Georgia (Atlanta)

 

      Gulf Coast (New Orleans)

 

      Indiana (Indianapolis)

 

      Kentucky-Tennessee (Nashville)

 

      North Florida (Jacksonville)

 

      North-South Carolina (Greensboro)

 

      South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale)

 

      Virginia-West Virginia (Richmond)

 

 

                           MIDSTATES  REGION

 

 

      Oklahoma-Arkansas (Oklahoma)

 

      Houston (Houston)

 

      Illinois (Chicago)

 

      Kansas-Missouri (St. Louis)

 

      Midwest (Milwaukee)

 

      North Central (St. Paul)

 

      North Texas (Dallas)

 

      South Texas (Austin)

 

 

                            WESTERN  REGION

 

 

      Central California (San Jose)

 

      Los Angeles (Los Angeles)

 

      Northern California (San Francisco)

 

      Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

 

      Southern California (Laguna Niguel)

 

      Southwest (Phoenix)

 

      Rocky Mountain (Denver)

 

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