03-3860. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Forms 8275 and 8275-R

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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8275, Disclosure Statement, and Form 8275-R, Regulation Disclosure Statement.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before April 21, 2003 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Glenn Kirkland, Internal Revenue Service, room 6411, 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 Larnice Mack, at [phone], or [e-mail], or Internal Revenue Service, room 6407, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Disclosure Statement (Form 8275) and Regulation Disclosure Statement (Form 8275-R).

OMB Number: 1545-0889.

Form Number: Forms 8275 and 8275-R.

Abstract: Internal Revenue Code section 6662 imposes accuracy-related penalties on taxpayers for substantial understatement of tax liability or negligence or disregard of rules and regulations. Code section 6694 imposes similar penalties on return preparers. Regulations sections 1.662-4(e) and (f) provide for reduction of these penalties if adequate disclosure of the tax treatment is made on Form 8275 or, if the position is contrary to a regulation, on Form 8275-R.

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

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses other for-profit organizations, individuals, not-for-profit institutions, and farms.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 5 hrs. 35 min.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,575,000.

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 10, 2003.

Carol Savage,

Program Analyst.