2017-08153. 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. Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning the VITA/TCE Volunteer Program.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before June 23, 2017 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Laurie Brimmer, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: VITA/TCE Volunteer Program.

OMB Number: 1545-2222.

Form Number: Forms 8653, 8654, 14204, 13715, and 13206.

Abstract: The Internal Revenue Service offers free assistance with tax return preparation and tax counseling using specially trained volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs assist seniors and individuals with low to moderate incomes, those with disabilities, and those for whom English is a second language.

Current Actions: There is a change in the paperwork burden previously approved by OMB. The agency has updated the number of respondents to reflect the most recent data available. In addition, no approval is being requested for Form 14310 as the form was made obsolete in 2016 as the process is now part of Link and Learn (a self-paced e-learning for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (VITA/TCE) program).

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals and Households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 45,100.

Estimated Average Time per Respondent: 21 minutes.

Estimate Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,097.

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 12, 2017.

Laurie Brimmer,

Senior Tax Analyst.