2015-03009. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

February 10, 2014.

The Department of the Treasury will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 on or after the publication date of this notice.

DATES:

Comments should be received on or before March 16, 2015 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments regarding the burden estimate, or any other aspect of the information collection, including suggestion for reducing the burden, to (1) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Treasury, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email at [e-mail] and (2) Treasury PRA Clearance Officer, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Suite 8140, Washington, DC 20220, or email at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone], email at [e-mail], or the entire information collection request maybe found at www.reginfo.gov.

Internal Revenue Service

OMB Number: 1545-XXXX.

Type of Review: New Collection.

Title: Pilot Test of Consumer Tipping Survey.

Abstract: The IRS is charged with collecting revenue legally owed to the federal government. One important category of income comes in the form of tips. Previous empirical research has shown income from tips to be significantly underreported, limiting the IRS's ability to collect the proper amount of tax revenue. The IRS believes a new study of consumer tipping practices is needed in order to better understand current tip reporting behavior so tax administrators and policy makers can make the tax system fairer and more efficient. Therefore, the IRS wishes to develop updated estimates of consumer tipping revenue across numerous services where tipping is prevalent.

In support of this mission, IRS is seeking a standard clearance to conduct a one-month pilot test in preparation for a nation-wide consumer tipping survey. There exists a substantial difference in the cost per response between a probability and non-probability sample. Pilot tests are therefore necessary to determine the relative accuracy and selection bias of tipping data that are collected using these different sampling methodologies in order to determine if there is tradeoff between accuracy and cost. The results of the pilot will be used to determine the sampling method employed in a nation-wide survey.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,717.

Robert Dahl,

Treasury PRA Clearance Officer.