2012-1971. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8939

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8939, Allocation of Increase in Basis for Property Acquired From a Decedent.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before April 2, 2012 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Yvette Lawrence, Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Allan Hopkins, [phone], at Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Allocation of Increase in Basis for Property Acquired From a Decedent.

OMB Number: 1545-2203.

Form Number: Form 8939.

Abstract: Section 6018 of the Internal Revenue Code requires this return to be filed by an executor the fair market value of all property (other than cash) acquired from the decedent is more than $1.3 million; in the case of a decedent who was a nonresident not a citizen of the United States, the fair market value of tangible property situated in the United States and other property acquired from the decedent by a United States person is greater than $60,000; or appreciated property is acquired from the decedent that the decedent acquired by gift within three years of death and a gift tax return was required to be filed on the transfer to the decedent. Section 6018(e) also requires executors who must file Form 8939 to provide the same information to recipients of the property as the executor must provide to the IRS.

Current Actions: There is no change in the paperwork burden previously approved by OMB.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-profit groups, Not-for-profit institutions, Farms, Federal Government, State, Local, or Tribal Governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 48,000.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 51 hours 43 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,482,080.

The following paragraph applies to all of 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 as long as 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.

Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Approved: January 25, 2012.

Allan Hopkins,

Tax Analyst.