2010-16961. 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning an existing final Regulation, INTL-941-86; INTL-656-87; and INTL-704-87, Treatment of Shareholders of Certain Passive Foreign Investment Companies (§ 1.1291-1, 1.1291-2, 1.1291-3, 1.1291-6, 1.1291-8).

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before September 13, 2010 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Gerald J. Shields, Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for copies of the regulations should be directed to Joel Goldberger at Internal Revenue Service, room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or at [phone], or through the Internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Treatment of Shareholders of Certain Passive Foreign Investment Companies.

OMB Number: 1545-1304.

Regulation Project Number: INTL-941-86; INTL-656-87; and INTL-704-87.

Abstract: This regulation concerns the taxation of shareholders of certain passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) upon payment of distributions by such companies or upon disposition of the stock of such companies. The reporting requirements affect U.S. persons that are direct and indirect shareholders of PFICs. The information is required by the IRS to identify PFICs and their shareholders, administer shareholder elections, verify amounts reported, and track transfers of stock of certain PFICs.

Current Actions: There is no change to this existing regulation.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals and business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,500.

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: July 1, 2010.

Gerald J. Shields,

IRS Supervisory Tax Analyst.