| 00:00:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
APPROACHING, TESTIMONY FROM THE IRS COMMISSIONER TO THE HOUSE WAYS AND
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| 00:00:06 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
MEANS COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT. THERE ARE 5000 FEWER EMPLOYEES AT THE IRS. SOME ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT LONG HOLD TIMES WHEN CALLING THE IRS. THE AGENCY...
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| 00:00:36 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HARD-WORKING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS HAVE FACED INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. MANY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, SLUGGISH ECONOMIC...
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| 00:04:09 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
US TODAY. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT OF RECENT BUDGET CUTS ON TAXPAYERS, TAX COLLECTION, AN AGENCY OPERATION. THE MOST RECENT REPORT TO CONGRESS...
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| 00:06:56 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
MR. DOUGLAS SHULMAN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THE COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED YOUR WRITTEN STATEMENT AND IT WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD....
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| 00:07:22 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO TALK ABOUT FILING SEASON AND OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND TO THE PRESIDENT'S 2013 BUDGET, WHICH WOULD GIVE US A MUCH NEEDED INCREASE OVER THE 2012...
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| 00:14:05 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BEING GIVEN TO EACH MEMBER. YOU TESTIFIED THAT AN ENFORCEMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE NOT AN EITHER/OR PROPOSITION. PROVIDING QUALITY TAXPAYER SERVICE...
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| 00:16:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TALK ABOUT A LOT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. IT IS NOT AN EITHER-OR PROPOSITION. THE NEED TO RUN SERVICE OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE OPERATIONS TO MAKE THE TAX...
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| 00:19:47 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
GIVEN THIS INFORMATION FROM THE G.A.O.. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO WORK ON YOU WITH THAT. I RECOGNIZE MR....
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| 00:20:13 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A -- THE G. AT A ALL NODES THAT THERE HAS BEEN A 34% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER-- GAO -- GAO KNOWS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A 34% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF...
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| 00:20:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
GENERAL TAX LAW QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS ABOUT, WHERE IS MY REFUND? I FILED NEXT FRIDAY -- LAST FRIDAY AND MY PREPARED TOLD ME I WOULD GET A REFUND ON WEDNESDAY....
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| 00:21:07 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR AN ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS IF THE AGENCY DOES NOT RECEIVE THESE RESOURCES? >> WE ARE STILL EARLY IN THE CONGRESSIONAL...
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| 00:21:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THAT ADJUSTMENT. THE MOST RECENT ADJUSTMENT WAS FOR 2006 AND 2007 WITH A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND A DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED CONGRESS....
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| 00:22:31 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AND WHICH SERVICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED? >> I WALKED THROUGH THE NOTION OF 300 MILLION AT THE TOP. THE IMPACT IS GREATER GIVEN WHERE THE RESOURCES WERE
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| 00:22:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PUT IN OUR BUDGET. WE HAVE A SLIGHT DIP IN THE NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS SERVED IN WHAT IN CENTERS. WE HAVE HAD A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF...
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| 00:23:58 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
GIVE FIVE MINUTES TO THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MINNESOTA. >>
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| 00:24:02 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON A LETTER I SENT YOU. YOU
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| 00:24:11 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF A REAL TIME TAX SYSTEM. THERE HAVE BEEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THE ISSUE AS WELL. THERE ARE BENEFITS TO RECEIVING...
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| 00:25:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
MAKE SURE I AM HELPING MOVE THE TAX SYSTEM FORWARD SOTHE COMBINATION OF CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS OF US WORKING BETTER AND QUICKER AND MORE TIMELY WITH TAX...
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| 00:28:31 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SYSTEM. HOW MANY YEARS WOULD IT TAKE TO BUILD AND TEST? >> WAY TOO EARLY. THIS IS A VISION WHERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS. THE FIRST STEP...
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| 00:28:47 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WHAT IT WOULD MEAN. THERE ARE A BUNCH OF THINGS WE DID DO RIGHT AWAY, WHICH IS PROCESSING THINGS QUICKER SO WE COULD HAVE QUICKER ENGAGEMENT. I CANNOT...
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| 00:29:27 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
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| 00:29:29 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
RECOGNIZE -- WE WILL REPR RECOGNIZE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FIVE MINUTES. >> IF YOU WILL PASS ALONG TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEE YEARS, I
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| 00:29:46 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CANNOT IMAGINE THE STRESS THEY ARE UNDER GIVEN YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WAITING TO CONNECT WITH THEM ON THE PHONE, UP TO 20 MINUTES, AND MANY...
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| 00:33:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A LOT. >>
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| 00:33:24 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IT IS INCREDIBLE. WE HAVE AMERICANS WHO ARE VOLUNTARILY PAYING
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| 00:33:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THEIR TAXES. YOU HAVE OTHER
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| 00:33:32 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AMERICANS WHO ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD AT THE LEVEL THEY SHOULD, SO IRRESPONSIBLE TAX PAYERS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE HAVING TO COVER THOSE WHO ARE...
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| 00:34:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PROUD OF THIS AGENCY DELIVERING ON MULTIPLE FRONTS. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, IN A DECREASE BUDGET FIREMAN, TRYING TO BALANCE...
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| 00:34:54 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
YOU, MR. SHULMAN, FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVE WITH IT DOLLARS, AND WE NEED TO SPEND THEM IN
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| 00:35:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE BEST WE CAN. I WAS READING A REPORT RECENTLY FROM THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION FOUND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL EDUCATION...
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| 00:38:07 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
UP OUR EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON FRAUD. LAST YEAR WE STOPPED $14 BILLION IN POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT OR MISTAKEN CREDITS FROM GOING OUT THE DOOR. THE SPECIFIC...
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| 00:40:14 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DO YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE A SOCIAL CENTER THE
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| 00:40:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NUMBER TO BE ON THAT FORM? >> CERTAIN CREDITS YOU HAVE TO
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| 00:40:22 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, CERTAIN TAX CREDITS YOU DO NOT. IT IS NOT
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| 00:40:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A REQUIREMENT. IF CONGRESS DECIDES THAT ONLY PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS CAN GET THAT CREDIT, AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE UP TO CONGRESS. WE CANNOT...
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| 00:40:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
COMMISSIONER
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| 00:40:50 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SHULMAN, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU. I WANT
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| 00:40:58 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE FLOYD WILLIAMS FOR HIS 15 YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE IRS, AND IT IS A TOTAL OF 35 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE? I WANT TO THANK...
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| 00:41:34 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ENFORCEMENT -- ON THE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES, YOU HAVE A RETURN FOR INVESTMENT. YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE 2013, YOU PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT...
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| 00:42:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CONSERVATIVE IN THE NUMBERS WE GIVE YOU. THE PEOPLE WE KNOW DO THOSE JOBS, A ROLLING 10-YEAR AVERAGE ON EXACT ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES. IF WE ARE GOING...
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| 00:44:44 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PROJECT FOR TWO-THIRDS -- 2013, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW US THE ACTUAL DATA THAT CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT YOU HIT 1.9 TO 1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT? >> IT IS...
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| 00:45:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
2013 MIGHT NOT BE EXACTLY THAT, BUT OVER A 10-YEAR. IT'S WILL AVERAGE OUT TO BE THAT AMOUNT. >> IN 2012 THERE WAS PROJECTED TO BE A 7.8-1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
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| 00:45:26 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WHAT WAS THE NUMBER FOR 2012? >> I DO NOT THINK YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS AS YOUR POINT IN TIME. WHAT YOU WANT TO
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| 00:45:38 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ENCOURAGE US IS GET THE RIGHT RESOURCES THAT WILL DRIVE THE RIGHT TAXPAYER BEHAVIOR. THESE NUMBERS ARE ONES WE CONSULT WITH G A ZERO, ZERO AND BE ON....
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| 00:46:06 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PROJECTIONS, THAT YOU ARE GIVING TO US. >> I WOULD NOT CHARACTERIZE IT THAT WAY. WE CAN WORK WITH METHODOLOGY AND HAVE
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| 00:46:19 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
STAFF CONVERSATIONS. >> YOU ARE WORKING WITH G A ZEROAO? >> YES. >> I APPRECIATE THE WORK TO
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| 00:46:31 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DO. IT IS
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| 00:46:33 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A TOUGH JOB. >> WE NEED TO
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| 00:46:38 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DELIVERING RESULTS. >> AGAIN, WELCOME, AND DOES THE
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| 00:46:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IRS HAVE RESOURCES WITH THE BUDGET TO TACKLE NEW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES? >>DO
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| 00:46:51 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO TAKE ON NEW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES? >> EARLIER
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| 00:47:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
I WAS SAYING WE TRIED TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE BUDGET THAT CONGRESS GIVES US. WE HAVE
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| 00:47:09 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A BIG JOB TO DO WHEN WE TRY TO BALANCE ACROSS THE BOARD ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO. WE HAVE REQUESTED IN THE 2013 BUDGET SOME NEW RESOURCES FOR SOME...
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| 00:47:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BUREAU DUTIES RELATED TO ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TO THE IRS WITH NO FUNDING ALLOCATED IN THIS BUDGET. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HE YOU HAVE HAD INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS...
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| 00:48:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PROPOSES GIVING YOU AN ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES BY SHIFTING ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE
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| 00:48:15 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BUREAU DUTIES TO THE IRS. >> I SHOULD GET BACK TO YOU ON THIS, BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THERE IS A FULL SHIFT PROPOSED. WE HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED IN
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| 00:48:26 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE PAST TO HAVE INVESTIGATORS HELPED WITH SOME INVESTIGATIONS. >> IF YOU COULD GIVE BE SOME CLARIFICATION I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. ONE OTHER QUESTION....
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| 00:48:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
MY ATTENTION, I HAVE GOTTEN A NUMBER OF LETTERS, WE HAVE SEEN RECENT PRESS ALLEGATIONS THAT THE IRS IS TARGETING CERTAIN TEA PARTY KURDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY...
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| 00:49:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY. THAT MAY START BY SAYING, YES, I CAN GIVE YOU ASSURANCES. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING IN A NON-POLITICAL, NON PARTISAN ORGANIZATION....
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| 00:51:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SO FORTH WITH REGARD TO TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS AS A WHOLE? >> AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE AUDITS BASED ON RISC, CRITERIA, COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS, ETC. IN THE...
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| 00:52:06 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, JUST TO MAKE EXTRA SURE THAT FOLKS ARE VERY INSULATED, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE OF THREE CAREER PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE NOT BASED IN WASHINGTON,...
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| 00:53:09 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
I WANT TO SHIFT THE QUESTION JUST A LITTLE BIT,
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| 00:53:14 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OR THE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH. I HAVE A LOT OF LGBT CLIENTS OR CONSTITUENTS. THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHING THE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF DEALING...
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| 00:54:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
COMPLEX ISSUE FOR THESE TAXPAYERS, BECAUSE -- THESE TAXPAYERS HAVE A DIFFERENT LEGAL STATUS UNDER FEDERAL LAW. UNDER STATE LAW THAT OFFENSE BUT THE...
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| 00:55:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
STATE LEVEL, A FEDERALLY IF THEY ARE DOING IT TOGETHER -- THEY CANNOT DO IT TOGETHER? >> IT ALL DEPENDS. DIFFERENT STATES HAVE DIFFERENT DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP...
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| 00:55:58 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BUT STATES OFTEN PIGGYBACK ON FEDERAL RETURNS, BUT RECOGNIZING COUPLES AS COUPLES HIS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHICH STATE AND ALSO FEDERAL LAWS ARE...
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| 00:56:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CHANGE SOME STATE LAWS TO MAKE THIS RATIONAL? >> TO THESE TAX PAYERS FILING. WE MAKE SURE WE DO OUR JOB, WHICH WE HAVE A SET
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| 00:56:36 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF TAXPAYERS WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES, WE DID OUT REACH, AND WE TRY TO CLARIFY WHAT WE COULD CLARIFY. >> IF I HAD A QUESTION, WHAT NUMBER WHAT I CALL TO...
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| 00:56:52 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AND THAT NUMBER SHOULD GET YOU TO SOMEBODY WHO WOULD GIVE YOU THE SAME ANSWER DAY AFTER DAY
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| 00:56:57 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AFTER DAY? YOU WILL NOT GET TWO
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| 00:56:59 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DIFFERENT ANSWERS? >> WE HOPE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. IT IS AN ISSUE I HEAR FROM THE DISTRICT A LOT
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| 00:57:10 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AND I WANT TO
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| 00:57:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
KNOW AND WE WILL SEE IF THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO DO. >> WITH YOUR INDULGENCE, MR. BECERRA AS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. >>
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| 00:57:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
COMMISSIONER, TWO WEEKS AGO I SAT DOWN WITH MY TAX PREPARER AND WENT OVER MY TAXES IN PREPARATION TO FILE.
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| 00:57:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOREVER. HE IS LICENSED. HE SAID TO ME, I WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU WERE DOING WITH REGARD TO THE TAXPAYERS TRYING TO GET...
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| 00:59:22 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PUBLIC HEARINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WITHOUT REGULATIONS WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT, SO THIS IS ABOUT PARTNER DURING WHICH...
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| 01:02:10 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BEING LATE. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. A LOT
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| 01:02:15 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF ISSUES ARE PENDING. WE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE REPORT, AND YOU AT THE IRS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT. I SEE SOME OF THE DISTURBING TRENDS IN THE...
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| 01:03:15 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ARE DOING EXAMS THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE TO TRIAGE AND DO LESS COLLECTION ACTIVITIES. THAN OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE COME IN. THE BIG TREND I AM WORRIED ABOUT...
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| 01:04:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CREDITS, 35% THIS YEAR. IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO 50% IN 2014. THERE ARE MOMENTS BACK HOME WHEN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY...
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| 01:05:07 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WHICH IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. IT IS A VERY COMPLEX CREDIT. WE HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PRACTITIONERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT...
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| 01:05:59 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IN 2014, THE EXCHANGE IS GOING FORWARD WITH THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE EXCHANGE MARKET. IS THE IRS
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| 01:06:07 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
MAKING PREPARATION FOR THAT? >> YES. WE'RE MAKING PREPARATION. WE'RE ON TRACK. THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING
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| 01:06:17 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AND THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HAD TO HIRE HIS TO BUILD TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS TO INTERACT WITH THE STATE EXCHANGES AND THE FEDERAL EXCHANGE SAID THAT AN ESTIMATED...
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| 01:07:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO ALL OF US TO LOOK AT TAX REFORM. IT IS
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| 01:07:33 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO IN A BIPARTISAN WAY. COMMISSIONER SHULMAN, THANK YOU FOR PREPARING WITH US TODAY. BE ADVISED MEMBERS MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS...
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NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.