E5-1749. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form SS-4 and SS-4PR

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 Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, and Form SS-4PR, Solicitud de Numero de Indentification Patronal (EIN).

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before June 13, 2005, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Glenn Kirkland Internal Revenue Service, room 6512, 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 Internal Revenue Service, room 6512, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224, or at [phone], or through the Internet at ([e-mail]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, and Form SS-4PR, Solicitud de Numero de Identification Patronal (EIN).

OMB Number: 1545-0003.

Form Number: Forms SS-4 and SS-4PR.

Abstract: Taxpayers who are required to have an identification number for use on any return, statement, or other document must prepare and file Form SS-4 or Form SS-4PR (Puerto Rico only) to obtain a number. The information is used by the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration in tax administration and by the Bureau of the Census for business statistics.

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

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions, farms, Federal government and state, local or tribal governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,419,064.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hr, 37 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,919,265.

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: April 6, 2005.

Glenn Kirkland,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.