RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Twenty-nine men and women from across the country will join 46 returning members of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, a federal advisory committee charged with providing taxpayer suggestions to improve IRS customer service.

The new members were selected from more than 400 interested individuals who applied during an open recruitment period last spring and the pool of alternate members who applied in prior years.

"Members of TAP volunteer their time to represent taxpayers and help the IRS understand their issues," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a statement posted on the IRS website. "The TAP plays an important role in sound tax administration."

TAP members are U.S. citizens who volunteer to serve a three-year appointment and are expected to devote 200 to 300 hours per year to panel activities.