Form 1040 Revisions Independent Review

[DATE]

Dear Taxpayer,

In the last two weeks, you should have received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) telling you that MITRE Corporation is conducting an independent research study about the redesigned 1040 tax form. As a taxpayer who has previously filed using a paper form, we invite you to participate in this study. If you choose to participate, you will receive a $100 pre-paid VISA gift card as a token of our appreciation.

ABOUT THE STUDY

• The IRS plans to use a redesigned 1040 form for the 2019 filing season. When the IRS and other government agencies update forms, it is crucial that the agency asks real taxpayers to test out the form.

• The goal of this study is not to collect your personal information, but rather, to learn whether taxpayers like you can use the new form without too much difficulty.

• MITRE Corporation is a not-for-profit company that operates research and development centers for the federal government, and is conducting this study for the IRS.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

• We are looking for volunteers in your city to participate in a research interview.

• Participants will be asked to attend a 60- to 90-minute, in-person interview with a MITRE employee to give your feedback on the new 1040 form.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICPATE

• Please call (xxx) xxx-xxxx or visit www.mitre.org/1040. Note: You will be asked a few brief questions to determine whether you can participate in the study. You will NOT be asked to provide your Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number.

We recognize that taxpayers may be skeptical of a letter asking for volunteers on behalf on the IRS. To verify this study is legitimate, and not a scam, please visit [WEBSITE] or call (xxx) xxx-xxxx. This study is being conducted under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Approval Number 1545-2274.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lucia Lykke, Ph.D. Lead Researcher MITRE 1040 Usability Study (Xxx) xxx-xxxx

MITRE Study Team Members: Jamel Morris, MITRE Project Manager John Bornmann, Ph.D. David Halpern Jonathan Keisler

The MITRE Corporation

7525 Colshire Drive, McLean, VA 22102