2018-10027. Proposed Extension of Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment; Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before July 10, 2018 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Roberto Mora-Figueroa, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224. Requests for additional information or copies of the regulations should be directed to R. Joseph Durbala, at Internal Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or through the internet, at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns.

OMB Number: 1545-0108.

Regulation Project Number: Form 1096.

Abstract: Form 1096 is used to transmit information returns (Forms 1099, 1098, 5498, and W-2G) to the IRS service centers. Under Internal Revenue Code section 6041 and related regulations, a separate Form 1096 is used for each type of return sent to the service center by the payer. It is used by IRS to summarize, categorize, and process the forms being filed.

Current Actions: There is no change to the burden previously approved.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions, farms, Federal government, and State, local or tribal governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,640,300.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 13.8 min.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,297,269.

The following paragraph applies to all the collections of information covered by this notice:

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number.

Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained if their contents may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Desired Focus of Comments: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is particularly interested in comments that:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., by permitting electronic submissions of responses.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the ICR for OMB approval of the extension of the information collection; they will also become a matter of public record.

Approved: May 7, 2018.

R. Joseph Durbala,

IRS Tax Analyst.