DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
April 27, 2000
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL MANAGERS
FROM:
Bob Wenzel
Deputy Commissioner Operations
SUBJECT:
Guidelines for Implementing Changes to Employee
Business Card (Calling Cards) Program
I am pleased to inform you that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently completed
extensive discussions on the expanded use and funding of business cards with the Department
of the Treasury and the National Treasury Employees Union. The IRS has the authority to pay
for business cards for employees directly involved in promoting Electronic Tax Administration,
personnel recruitment, and with significant public contact relevant to section 3705(a) of the IRS
Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA98). With the receipt of this added authority,
Treasury has requested that we issue guidance to ensure effective implementation of the
changes to the business card program.
Managers are required to ensure that personnel under their supervision possess only
authorized identification and that such media is used properly. A business card is an authorized
form of identification designed to provide a ready reference for contact with non-IRS individuals.
In the past, many employees have purchased business cards with personal funds and in some
cases, used the personal computer to generate business cards. Employees may continue
obtaining business cards with their personal funds if they have followed the Internal Revenue
Manual (IRM) and received their manager's approval. All business cards, including those
obtained with personal funds, must conform to approved design standards based on the IRS'
Corporate Identity criteria. However, until adequate security measures are in place, employees
should discontinue producing business cards on personal computers.
These guidelines reaffirm and supplement existing procedures found in the following IRM
issuances, 1.16.4 Identification Media Handbook and 1.17.4 Multimedia Publishing. Managers
and employees s