02-3823. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Revenue Procedure 99-17

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 Revenue Procedure 99-17, Mark to Market Election for Commodities Dealers and Securities and Commodities Traders.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before April 16, 2002 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to George Freeland, Internal Revenue Service, room 5575, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of revenue procedure should be directed to Carol Savage, [phone], or through the Internet ([e-mail].), Internal Revenue Service, room 5242, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Mark to Market Election for Commodities Dealers and Securities and Commodities Traders.

OMB Number: 1545-1641.

Revenue Procedure Number: Revenue Procedure 99-17.

Abstract: This revenue procedure prescribes the time and manner for dealers in commodities and traders in securities or commodities to elect to use the mark-to-market method of accounting under sections 475(e) and (f) of the Internal Revenue Code. The collections of information in this revenue procedure are required by the IRS in order to facilitate monitoring taxpayers changing accounting methods resulting from making the elections under Code section 475(e) or (f).

Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the revenue procedure at this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

The reporting burden for the collections of information in section 5.01-5.04 of this revenue procedure is as follows:

Estimated Number of Respondents/Recordkeepers: 1,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent/Recordkeeper: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Reporting/Recordkeeping Hours: 500.

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: February 7, 2002.

George Freeland,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.