By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman (D) has appointed Andrea Brown as director of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate.
Brown has served with the Comptroller’s Office since 2006, where she most recently assumed the role of deputy director of revenue administration. She’s also held a variety of leadership roles within the office. As director of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, she will oversee the office and work throughout the agency to improve accountability to taxpayers and increase access to a fair and efficient tax system.
“Andrea Brown’s two decades of experience with our agency, particularly with the Revenue Administration Division, make her uniquely qualified to lead the Office of Taxpayer Advocate,” said Lierman in a statement. “I am confident that Andrea will bring strong leadership and expertise to this office, and I am excited to work with her to provide real solutions and an improved customer experience during the upcoming tax filing season and beyond.”
At the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, personnel work directly with taxpayers to resolve intricate issues that cannot easily be settled via regular customer service channels. The office provides recommendations to improve processes within the agency, aiming to make the tax system more equitable.
The Office of the Taxpayer Advocate was created via legislation led by Lierman in 2023. It replaced the Comptroller of Maryland’s former ombudsman’s office, dedicated to swift and adequate solutions for taxpayers.
“As the director of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, I will use my tax knowledge and experience to deliver quality service to the taxpayers of Maryland,” said Brown. “My primary focus is identifying systemic challenges and developing a streamlined and collaborative approach that will provide solutions that ultimately work for taxpayers.”