Federal Manager's Daily Report

The IRS has announced what it called its first foray into crowdsourcing, launching a “tax design challenge” to help improve the taxpayer experience with the agency.

The 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,” it said.

Submissions will be accepted April 17-May 10, with a first prize of $10,000 for best overall design, and $2,000 each for best taxpayer usefulness and best financial capability. Funding will come from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

“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,” it added.

The contest is authorized under the America Competes Reauthorization Act, the IRS said, adding that the government has sponsored more than 660 prize competitions since 2010.