Andrew Vansingel Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

SPEC is the outreach and education function of IRS’ Wage and Investment (W&I) Division. SPEC’s strives to help taxpayers in satisfying their tax responsibilities by building and keeping partnerships with key stakeholders who inform, educate, and communicate with our shared customers.SPEC achieves its mission by combining resources and goals with other organizations for better access to lower income and underserved populations in local communities. This approach, known as a "leveraged" approach, places an emphasis on partner involvement and introduces relationship management as a key element in its operations.SPECs partners consist of corporate, faith-based, non-profit, educational, financial, government and military organizations.SPECs community coalition members must work together to help lower income individuals in their own neighborhoods. The coalitions have greater access to taxpayers, higher potential for expanded resources, and own the important intangibles of taxpayers’ credibility and trust.SPEC uses a three-pronged approach to serve the W&I taxpayer: Tax Preparation, Tax Education (Outreach), and Financial Education and Asset Building.

Chicago, Il

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. Since September 2007 the ABA YLD has responded to over 100 declared disasters in 40 states and U.S. territories.

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. Since September 2007 the ABA YLD has responded to over 100 declared disasters is 37 states and U.S.

Brookfield, Il

Founded in 1981 by a visionary group of parents, educators and community leaders, Community Support Services was established on the premise that all individuals deserve an optimal chance to live with independence, self-esteem, and personal fulfillment. This fundamental belief continues to inspire our programs and services and motivate our many passionate staff members and volunteers.CSS has continued to grow strategically and compassionately, striving to better serve people with developmental disabilities and their families. Ours is a story of hope and optimism—a story that speaks of the human ability to create, to achieve, and to make a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of others.

Greater Chicago Area

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is your voice at the IRS. We ensure you are treated fairly, and know and understand your rights. If you are having tax problems and have not been able to resolve them with the IRS, you may be eligible for free TAS help. We know this process can be confusing, but the worst thing you can do is nothing at all!Visit the Taxpayer Advocate Service website for additional information.

Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., is a 65-lawyer legal services organization serving 36 counties in northern and central Illinois outside of Cook County. The Low-Income Tax Clinic provides free legal advice and representation in tax controversies to low-income individuals. As the program director, I am responsible for all Clinic activities, including client representation, supervision of interns and volunteers, community outreach, staff training, and grant reporting and preparation. The Clinic assists clients through litigation (primarily in the United States Tax Court), administrative and agency advocacy, and, where appropriate and permitted, systemic advocacy outside the legal process. In addition, the position offers opportunities to work with private attorneys to develop pro bono resources to help serve our clients, to develop community education on these issues in collaboration with volunteers and social service agencies, and to train legal services attorneys on the intersection of tax law and other areas in which they already practice.

Greater Chicago Area

TAP/Ladder Up is a public interest organization which prepares income taxes for low-income Chicago residents. Since 2010, I have worked for Ladder Up as a trainer during the filing season, and traveled throughout Chicago to train lawyers and other professionals on tax law basics, and how to complete income tax returns through ProSeries.

United States

An Associate Clinical Professor, I combined my prior teaching experience with clinical experience to provide valuable guidance to students and contribute to the advancement of their tax knowledge. In this role, I have undertaken a range of duties and responsibilities, including: educational instruction, mentoring and advising, clinical supervision, academic research and writing, and community engagement.

Greater Chicago Area

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is a federal advisory committee charged with providing taxpayer suggestions to improve IRS customer service. Members are recommended by the IRS and approved by the Department of Treasury.The TAP listens to taxpayers, identifies issues and makes suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. Oversight and program support for the TAP are provided by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS that helps resolve taxpayer problems and makes recommendations to avoid future problems.TAP members work with IRS executives on priority topics, primarily those involving the Wage & Investment and Small Business/Self-Employed operating divisions. Members also serve as a conduit for bringing grassroots concerns raised by the taxpaying public to the attention of the IRS.TAP members are U.S. citizens who volunteer to serve a three-year appointment and are expected to devote 200 to 300 hours per year to panel activities. TAP members are demographically and geographically diverse, providing balanced representation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Greater Chicago Area

The Affiliate is published six times a year for the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division's state, local, and specialty affiliated young lawyer groups. In addition to conveying information to bar leaders around the country as to events, meetings, subgrants, and other resources offered through the ABA YLD, The Affiliate seeks to inspire new projects through feature articles highlighting individual affiliate projects and persons involved in public service and membership support.

Chicago, Il

The Affiliate is published six times a year for the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division's state, local, and specialty affiliated young lawyer groups. In addition to conveying information to bar leaders around the country as to events, meetings, subgrants, and other resources offered through the ABA YLD, The Affiliate seeks to inspire new projects through feature articles highlighting individual affiliate projects and persons involved in public service and membership support.

Wheaton, Il

Touro Law Center

Worked in tandem with Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island to coordinate the annual VITA program, which is sponsored by the IRS, and provides free income tax preparation assistance to low-income, elderly, and limited-English speaking individuals.

Extern as part of Touro's Business, Law & Technology Clinic, which allows students to work in private law firms and corporate law departments with a focus on intellectual property, e-commerce, licensing and joint ventures, privacy, and general corporate law, while examining the professional, ethical, personal, and financial pressures inherent in the practice of law. The clinic is designed to give students insight into law practice representing technology-enabled organizations; to provide hands-on experience in the varied and complex skills required to practice law; and to emphasize the importance of counseling and planning to a successful professional career.

J.D., Law

Activities and Societies: Touro Law Review, New York State Constitutional Issue Editor (2009-2010) Contributing Columnist, The Suffolk.

Bba, Finance, Economics

Activities and Societies: The Western Herald, Circulation Manager Tutor, Portage Central High School American Red Cross Volunteer Pre-Law.

Education record