IRS To Hold Technology Crowdsourcing Contest

Innovation. Savvy technology. Cutting edge design.

These are three terms not likely to make you think of the IRS.

But the nation’s taxing agency is trying to step up its game when it comes to using technology to improve customer (aka taxpayer) interactions. The IRS wiill be hosting its first Tax Design Challenge crowdsourcing competition to encourage innovative ideas for the taxpayer experience of the future.

The effort, being done in coordination with the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), is a crowdsourcing competition open to the public. The competition will engage teams of designers, developers, and innovative thinkers across the U.S. to envision options for taxpayer interactions.

“Crowdsourcing is a new activity for the IRS, but we believe working with citizens and the private sector will help support innovation in an important area for the nation’s tax system,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “The Tax Design Challenge reflects our commitment to find the best ideas and plan for a future state of tax administration that works well for taxpayers and our partners.”

The three-week competition invites the public to imagine the taxpayer experience of the future and specifically design an online experience that better organizes and presents a person’s tax information. The goal is to make it easier for a person to manage their tax responsibilities, and use their own tax data to make informed and effective decisions about their personal finances.

“At MBA, one of our goals is to help families achieve home ownership, and the ability to safely obtain and share one’s own tax information is critical to that process. Ultimately, the designs produced through this competition could help millions of Americans securely interact with our tax system faster and easier,” said David H. Stevens, CMB, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Submissions will be accepted starting April 17 through May 10, 2016. Participants must first register on the website www.taxdesignchallenge.com.

Throughout the competition, participants will have the chance to engage with policy experts and a network of mentors that include world-class strategists and designers from government and non-government organizations. The winning designs will be showcased in an online gallery and receive monetary prizes, funded exclusively by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Employees of the IRS and MBA are not eligible to participate in the contest.

Each submission will be considered for all three prize categories listed below. A review panel will select winners based on defined criteria and an individual submission can win multiple awards:

Overall Design—$10,000 (1st), and $5,000 (2nd).
Best Taxpayer Usefulness—$2,000 (1st), and $1,000 (2nd).
Best Financial Capability—$2,000 (1st), and $1,000 (2nd)

And yes … the financial awards may be subject to federal income taxes based on individual situations.