E5-7659. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

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 an existing final regulation, REG-124069-02, Section 6038—Returns Required with Respect to Controlled Foreign Partnerships; and existing final regulation, REG-118966-97, Information reporting with Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships and Certain Foreign Corporations.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before February 21, 2006 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Glenn P. Kirkland, Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the regulations should be directed to Allan Hopkins, at [phone], or at Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the Internet, at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Section 6038—Returns Required with Respect to Controlled Foreign Partnerships, and Information reporting with Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships and Certain Foreign Corporations.

OMB Number: 1545-1617.

Regulation Project Number: REG-124069-02, REG-118966-97.

Abstract: REG-124069-02: Treasury Regulation § 1.6038-3 requires certain United States persons who own interests in controlled foreign partnerships to annually report information to the IRS on Form 8865. This regulation amends the reporting rules under Treasury Regulation section § 1.6038-e to provide that a U.S. person must follow the filing requirements that are specified in the instructions for Form 8865 when the U.S. person must file Form 8865 and the foreign partnership completes and files Form 1065 or Form 1065-B. REG-118966-97: Section 6038 requires certain U.S. persons who own interest in controlled foreign partnerships or certain foreign corporations to annually report information to the IRS. This regulation provides reporting rules to identify foreign partnerships and foreign corporations which are controlled by U.S. persons.

Current Actions: There are no changes to these existing regulations.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit institutions and individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 250.

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: December 15, 2005.

Glenn P. Kirkland,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.