The Taxpayer Advocate's office of the IRS released its mid-year report yesterday -- see: Fiscal Year 2008 Objectives report; IRS press release ($). The report's focus is on improving taxpayer services, ensuring that taxpayer rights are protected in the Internal Revenue Service's private debt collection initiative, and making the offer-in-compromise program accessible for taxpayers. The IRS also announced yesterday an open conference call of the Taxpayer Assistance Center Committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, to be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at noon Eastern, to solicit public comments, ideas and suggestions on improving customer service at the IRS. For more information, contact Dave Coffman at 1-888-912-1227, or 206-220-6096. Bear in mind that the Panel's office is based in Washington State (Pacific Time) and that Mr. Coffman will be out of the office the week of Monday, July 23. He will be back the following week, but anyone in the office can assist you.