00-17793. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Forms 940 and 940-PR

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 Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return, and Form 940-PR, Planilla Para La Declaracion Anual Del Patrono—La Contribucion Federal Para El Desempleo (FUTA).

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before September 12, 2000 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Garrick R. Shear, Internal Revenue Service, room 5244, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the forms and instructions should be directed to Faye Bruce, [phone], Internal Revenue Service, room 5244, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return (Form 940) and Planilla Para La Declaracion Anual Del Patrono—La Contribucion Federal Para El Desempleo (FUTA) (Form 940-PR).

OMB Number: 1545-0028.

Form Number: 940 and 940-PR.

Abstract: Internal Revenue Code section 3301 imposes a tax on employers based on the first $7,000 of taxable wages paid to each employee. The tax is computed and reported on Forms 940 and 940-PR (Puerto Rico employers only). IRS uses the information on Forms 940 and 940-PR to ensure that employers have reported and figured the correct FUTA wages and tax.

Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the forms at this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, individuals, or households, and farms.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,367,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 14 hr., 26 min.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 19,736,544.

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 7, 2000.

Garrick R. Shear,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.