The Internal Revenue Service is inviting public input about best practices for conducting video conferences for those with appeals cases pending. Interim guidance on video conferencing was issued in March 2020 in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the IRS Independent Office of Appeals is considering permanent guidelines
While in-person conferences have resumed, the IRS says video conferencing will remain an option.
Interim guidance covers IRS employee responsibilities for scheduling and conducting the video conference, procedures for verifying authorized participants and necessary technology prerequisites. There were also includes basic recommendations for establishing a professional meeting environment.
Among the common areas of feedback already received are the following: *When effectively managed video conferences can often provide a better taxpayer experience than a telephone conference. *The role of the Appeals employee leading the conference is critical. *Video conferences that allow for screen sharing of documents can lead to a more comprehensive discussion issues. *Taxpayers for whom video conferencing technology is a challenge should not be disadvantaged by their inability to participate in an Appeals conference by video.
Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards. Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind