E5-2795. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the Tax Performance System (TPS). Note that the name of this program was changed from Revenue Quality Control to the Tax Performance System. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the contact section of this notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the address below on or before August 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Rett Hensley, Office of Workforce Security, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Room S 4522, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20210; 202-693-3203 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Since 1987, states have been required by regulation at 20 CFR Part 602 to operate a program to assess their Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax and benefit programs. TPS developed new measures for tax performance to replace those previously gathered under the Quality Appraisal system. TPS is designed to assess the major internal UI tax functions by utilizing several methodologies: Computed Measures which are indicators of timeliness and completeness based on data automatically generated via the existing ETA 581, Contribution Operations Report (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval number 1205-0178, expiring 8/31/2005); and Program Reviews which assess accuracy through a two-fold examination. This examination involves: (a) “Systems Reviews” which examine tax systems for the existence of internal controls; and (b) extraction of small samples of those systems' transactions which are then examined to verify the effectiveness of controls.

II. Review Focus

The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

♢ Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

♢ evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

♢ enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

♢ minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

III. Current Actions

This is a request for OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c) (2) (A)) for continuing an existing collection of information previously approved and assigned OMB control No. 1205-0332.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.

Title: Tax Performance System.

OMB Number: 1205-0332.

Affected Public: State government.

Total Respondents: 52.

Frequency: Annually.

Total Responses: 52.

Average time per response: 1739 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 90,428.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the extension of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Dated: May 11, 2005.

Cheryl Atkinson,

Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.