The Internal Revenue Service has announced it seeks applications for its broad-based private-sector advisory panel, the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC), which provides important feedback and recommendations regarding tax administration.

The 30-member panel is a diverse slice of the tax professional community including tax attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, appraisers, other tax practitioners, as well as business representatives.

"The IRSAC plays a vital role by ensuring that executives at the IRS have feedback about how our policies and actions affect the private sector," said Doug Shulman, IRS Commissioner.

Applications will be accepted from May 1 to June 16 of this year for three Council openings that will begin in January 2009. The IRS Commissioner appoints members to three-year terms.

IRSAC was originally called the Commissioner's Advisory Group (CAG) and was renamed in 1998. IRSAC provides an organized public forum for IRS officials and relevant members of the public to discuss tax administration issues. The panel presents a report to the Commissioner each year at a public meeting in the fall.

More information and applications are available on the Tax Professionals page of the IRS web site (IRS.gov). Questions about the nomination and application process can be sent to public_liaison@irs.gov