2020-06971. Agency Information Collection Activity: Report and Certification of Loan Disbursement, Request for Verification of Employment and Request for Verification of Deposit

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 4, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov,, or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0521” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Danny S. Green, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0521” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.

Title: Report and Certification of Loan Disbursement, Request for Verification of Employment and Request for Verification of Deposit, (VA Form 26-1820, VA Form 26-8497, VA Form 26-8497a).

OMB Control Number: 2900-0521.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Lenders must obtain specific information concerning a veteran's credit history in order to properly underwrite the veteran's loan. VA loans may not be guaranteed unless the veteran is a satisfactory credit risk. The data collected on the following forms are used to ensure that applications for VA-guaranteed loans are underwritten in a reasonable and prudent manner.

a. VA Form 26-1820 is completed by lenders closing VA-guaranteed and insured loans under the automatic or prior approval procedures.

b. VA Form 26-8497 is used by lenders to verify a loan applicant's income and employment information when making guaranteed and insured loans. VA does not require the exclusive use of this form for verification purposes, any alternative verification document would be acceptable provided that all information requested on VA Form 26-8497 is provided.

c. Lenders making guaranteed and insured loans complete VA Form 26-8497a to verify the applicant's deposits in banks and other savings institutions.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published at 85 FR18 on January 28, 2020, pages 5068 and 5069.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 187,500 hours.

VA Form 26-1820: 150,000 hours.

VA From 26-8497: 25,000 hours.

VA Form 26-8497a: 12,500 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:

VA Form 26-1820: 15 minutes.

VA Form 26-8497: 10 minutes.

VA Form 26-8497a: 5 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 900,000.

VA Form 26-1820: 600,000.

VA Form 26-8497: 150,000.

VA Form 26-8497a: 150,000.

By direction of the Secretary.

Danny S. Green,

VA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Performance and Risk, Department of Veterans Affairs.