The Internal Revenue Service today announced the appointment of 10 new members to the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC).
Founded by statute in 1998, the ETAAC serves as a public forum for discussing electronic tax administration issues. Initially, the committee’s main objective was to encourage paperless filing of tax and information returns. However, its focus has broadened in recent years. ETAAC members collaborate with the Security Summit, a partnership involving the IRS, state tax administrators and the national tax industry to combat identity theft and refund fraud.
“ETAAC provides a great venue for tax professionals to provide the IRS with feedback on electronic tax administration,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. “The members of the committee bring vast amounts of invaluable real-world experience and insight to the IRS and help improve the tax system for all taxpayers.”
The committee is made up of state tax officials, cybersecurity and information security experts, tax professionals, tax software developers, representatives from the payroll and financial sectors and representatives from consumer groups.
The following individuals have been appointed to serve on the committee:
Shelly Abril – Ms. Abril is head of payroll product compliance with Gusto where she oversees compliance for a platform that processes payroll taxes for over 500,000 small and mid-sized businesses. Ms. Abril also serves as vice president of the National Payroll Reporting Consortium, a nonprofit trade association whose members serve roughly 3 million U.S. employers, represent over 48% of the private-sector workforce and deposit over 43% of all IRS employment taxes collected.
Jack Hyre – Mr. Hyre is a CPA and president of THG & Associates where he specializes in small business tax strategy, corporate restructurings and operational finance. Additionally, his efforts are complemented by his Certified Information Systems Security Professional credential, reflecting experience managing enterprise-scale cybersecurity challenges, including safeguarding payment systems, supporting regulatory compliance and automating financial and technical controls. With a unique blend of finance and technology expertise, he helps clients operate more securely in an increasingly digital environment. Mr. Hyre holds a Master of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi.
Mindy Mayo – Ms. Mayo is a managing director in KPMG’s Silicon Valley office. She has over 30 years of employment tax experience and has assisted clients through a myriad of payroll issues encountered during a company’s life cycle. Recognized nationally as an expert in the field of payroll and worker classification issues, Ms. Mayo is a frequent presenter for the American Payroll Association at both local and national events.
Christopher Modi – Mr. Modi has expertise and leadership experience in strategic innovation management, systems management and improvement, fintech software development, emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, blockchain and data analytics, and cybersecurity and information security. He currently serves in the public interest as a board member of the American Network for Innovation, a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization dedicated to fueling American innovation in the public and private sectors.
Richard Phipps – Mr. Phipps is vice president and tax compliance officer with Fidelity Investments. He has significant experience in enterprise operational tax governance, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management across global financial institutions. Mr. Phipps is known for shaping digital asset tax policy, strengthening Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, Qualified Intermediary, Qualified Derivatives Dealer governance programs and leading high-impact tax remediation and transformation programs.
Yehuda Tenenbaum – Mr. Tenenbaum is an enrolled agent who founded Y10 Tax Solutions in 2019. He serves as the primary tax advisor and compliance professional for a client base that includes W-2 employees, self-employed professionals, small business owners, real estate investors, retirees and public safety officers. Mr. Tenenbaum’s practice encompasses individual and pass-through entity returns, multistate compliance, estimated tax planning, and IRS notice resolution. He is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the Maryland Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals.
Kathryn Tracy – Ms. Tracy is an enrolled agent and former IRS revenue agent who has owned and operated an accounting and income tax return preparation firm since 1992. She started in the accounting and tax industry in 1982. Ms. Tracy’s firm has prepared and e-filed thousands of business and personal returns as well as payroll and information returns over the years. She has volunteered with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program since 1988, serving as a preparer, instructor, site manager and national VITA volunteer test writer. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University. Ms. Tracy sits on several nonprofit boards and is an active member of National Association of Enrolled Agents and the Arizona Society of Enrolled Agents.
Michelle Potter Trevena – Ms. Trevena is a CPA and a principal within the Ryan LLC Employment Tax Practice, which provides integrated federal, state, local and international tax services on a multijurisdictional basis. She advises clients on multistate employment tax issues, merger and acquisition integration, refund studies, risk management services, payroll process reviews and information reporting issues. Ms. Trevena holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Georgia.
John Valentine – Mr. Valentine has been a tax administrator and head of the Utah State Tax Commission for 12 years. Prior to this, he was in private practice for 38 years as a tax attorney, with primary emphasis in federal and state taxation. Mr. Valentine served for 26 years in the Utah Legislature, including two terms as President of the Senate. He is a current member and past president (2020) of the Federation of Tax Administrators Board of Trustees, past chairman of the Multistate Tax Commission and is the current president of the Western States Association of Tax Administrators.
Amanda Watson – Ms. Watson is an enrolled agent and a seasoned customer success professional at Taxwell (Drake Software) with over 21 years of experience in the tax software industry. She excels in driving success for tax professionals, leading customer success initiatives, and fostering relationships within the tax industry. Ms. Watson is a recognized industry speaker, known for making complex tax topics accessible and relevant, and she is passionate about advocating for tax professionals.
Founded by statute in 1998, the ETAAC is a public forum that discusses electronic tax administration issues and provides real-world feedback to the IRS. While its initial focus was encouraging paperless tax filing, it now also works closely with the Security Summit to combat identity theft and refund fraud.
The IRS appointed 10 new members to the committee: Shelly Abril, Jack Hyre, Mindy Mayo, Christopher Modi, Richard Phipps, Yehuda Tenenbaum, Kathryn Tracy, Michelle Potter Trevena, John Valentine, and Amanda Watson.
The committee comprises state tax officials, cybersecurity and information security experts, tax professionals (CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys), tax software developers, representatives from the payroll and financial sectors, and consumer group advocates.
ETAAC members collaborate directly with the Security Summit—a joint partnership between the IRS, state tax administrators, and the national tax industry—to share insights and strengthen defenses against tax-related identity theft and refund fraud.
According to IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano, the newly appointed members bring extensive, real-world experience across payroll compliance, fintech, digital assets, multistate taxation, and enterprise cybersecurity to help the IRS modernize and improve the tax system for all taxpayers.
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