The Treasury Department has selected a Honolulu man to serve on the nationwide Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, makes suggestions for improving IRS service,

John Kim, a resident of Honolulu, is one of 100 volunteers serving on the panel. He will represent local taxpayers as well as work on national issues.

"I hope it will give me the opportunity to contribute to making tax filing a simpler process for our citizens," said Kim, who is retired.

Panel members devote 300 to 500 hours yearly to the panel. Members work with IRS executives on priority topics and also serve as a conduit for grassroots issues between the public and the IRS.

Some of the professions represented on the panel include teachers, engineers, attorneys, public administrators, home makers, accountants, law enforcement officers, professors, and retired military and small business owners.

"The new panel members play a critical role by helping to ensure the IRS provides quality taxpayer service to all taxpayers", said Nina Olson, IRS National Taxpayer Advocate and head of the Taxpayer Advocate Service. "As the IRS remains committed to improving services and assistance to taxpayers, the input from the citizen volunteers at TAP has never been more important. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is committed to making sure the IRS seeks out and considers panel member's views on key initiatives impacting taxpayers before decisions are made."

Taxpayers can contact John Kim and the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel by calling 1-888-912-1227 or via the Internet at www.improveirs.org. Taxpayers can also write to the Panel at: Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, 915 2nd Avenue M/S W406, Seattle, WA 98174.