2017-21260. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 637

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 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 information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 637, Application for Registration (For Certain Excise Tax Activities).

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before December 4, 2017 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to L. Brimmer, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224. Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Martha R. Brinson, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224 or through the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Application for Registration (For Certain Excise Tax Activities).

OMB Number: 1545-0014.

Form Number: Form 637.

Abstract: Form 637 is used to apply for excise tax registration. The registration applies to a person required to be registered under Revenue code section 4101 for purposes of the federal excise tax on taxable fuel imposed under Code sections 4041 and 4071; and to certain manufacturers or sellers and purchasers that must register under Code section 4222 to be exempt from the excise tax on taxable articles. The data is used to determine if the applicant qualifies for the exemption. Taxable fuel producers are required by Code section 4101 to register with the Service before incurring any tax liability.

Current Actions: Section B, line 8 is removed because it was a burdensome to applicants to request their tax returns/financials at this stage of the process.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, and not-for-profit institutions, and farms.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 11 hr., 19 min.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 22,620.

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: September 28, 2017.

L. Brimmer,

Senior Tax Analyst.