Published: August 27, 2024 | Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Foster a Diverse Range of Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Volunteers and Educate Via Outreach

Background

In Fiscal Year 2025, the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) will prioritize several key areas to enhance its support for taxpayers. TAP will leverage targeted outreach campaigns to recruit individuals from various backgrounds and communities, including college students, international taxpayers, and senior citizens, to foster inclusivity and ensure the panel represents all sectors of the population and demographics. Additionally, TAP will concentrate on expanding its outreach and training initiatives, both for TAP members and staff, to better equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively assist taxpayers. TAP will enhance communication channels to reach a wider audience, provide comprehensive training programs to enhance members’ understanding of the IRS, and foster collaboration between TAP members and IRS staff to streamline support services for taxpayers. By prioritizing recruiting, outreach, and training efforts, TAP aims to strengthen its role as a vital advocate for taxpayers and enhance its ability to address their needs in the ever-evolving landscape of tax administration.

Highlights

Status

Expected Completion Date

09/30/2025

Activities

Activity 1: Leverage relationships within TAS and the IRS and with external partners through the release and promotion of TAP’s Annual Report to maximize awareness of TAP and showcase the benefit of TAP’s uniquely wide spectrum of demographic backgrounds.

Activity 2: Partner with local colleges, non-profit organizations, tax professional organizations, and TAS and IRS stakeholders to conduct and promote TAP outreach activities and initiatives.

Activity Updates:

Closed Activity 1: The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) published its Annual Report in March, 2025, and continues to actively collect data for the 2026 TAP. As part of this process, committee chairs are using a standardized template to document and submit their referrals. This approach will ensure consistency, clarity, and efficiency in compiling the Report and highlight the important work being done across all committees. Recommend activity be closed – completed.

Activity 2: TAP volunteers have completed approximately 195 hours dedicated to outreach. TAP staff will continue to encourage TAP members to perform outreach activities at colleges and universities, along with establishing outreach opportunities with military families and low-income individuals.

1st Quarter Actions Completed

This activity will begin in the 2nd quarter of 2025.

2nd Quarter Actions Completed

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel published its Annual Report in March, 2025.

Outreach events are paused at the current time.

TAS developed, established and implemented a comprehensive outreach strategy. TAS performed outreach to colleges and universities, military families and low-income individuals.

3rd Quarter Actions Completed

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) published its Annual Report in March, 2025, and continues to actively collect data for the 2026 TAP. As part of this process, committee chairs are using a standardized template to document and submit their referrals. This approach will ensure consistency, clarity, and efficiency in compiling the Report and highlight the important work being done across all committees.

TAP volunteers have completed approximately 195 hours dedicated to outreach. TAP staff will continue to encourage TAP members to perform outreach activities at colleges and universities, along with establishing outreach opportunities with military families and low-income individuals.

Next Steps

TAP will continue to encourage TAP members to perform outreach activities at colleges and universities, along with establishing outreach opportunities with military families and low-income individuals.

Return to FY25 Objective Statuses