2017-06916. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return

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 Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before June 6, 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.

Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Sara Covington at Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return.

OMB Number: 1545-0023.

Form Number: 720.

Abstract: Form 720 is used to report (1) excise taxes due from retailers and manufacturers on the sale or manufacture of various articles, (2) the tax on facilities and services, (3) environmental taxes, (4) luxury tax, and (5) floor stocks taxes. The information supplied on Form 720 is used by the IRS to determine the correct tax liability. Additionally the data is reported by the IRS to Treasury so that funds may be transferred from the general revenue fund to the appropriate trusts funds.

Current Actions: There were changes made to the burden estimates, due to the discontinuation of the Over-the-counter (OTC) voucher.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Estimated Number of Responses: 401,444.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 11 hrs, 9 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,474,785.

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: March 29, 2017.

Laurie Brimmer,

IRS Senior Tax Analyst.