2020-15593. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 15597

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Internal Revenue Service, 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 15597, Foreclosure Sale Purchaser Contact Information Request.

DATES:

Written comments should be received on or before September 18, 2020 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Chakinna Clemons, 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 LaNita Van Dyke, at [phone], at Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or through the internet at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Foreclosure Sale Purchaser Contact Information Request.

OMB Number: 1545-2199.

Form Number: Form 15597.

Abstract: Form 15597, Foreclosure Sale Purchaser Contact Information Request, is information requested of individuals or businesses that have purchased real property at a third-party foreclosure sale. If the IRS has filed a “Notice of Federal Tax Lien” publically notifying a taxpayer's creditors that the taxpayer owes the IRS a tax debt, AND a creditor senior to the IRS position later forecloses on their creditor note (such as the mortgage holder of a taxpayers primary residence) THEN the IRS tax claim is discharged or removed from the property (if the appropriate foreclosure rules are followed) and the foreclosure sale purchaser buys the property free and clear of the IRS claim EXCEPT that the IRS retains the right to “redeem” or buy back the property from the foreclosure sale purchaser w/in 120 days after the foreclosure sale. Collection of this information is authorized by 28 U.S.C. 2410 and IRC 7425.

Current Actions: There are no changes made to the burden previously reported to OMB. This is for renewal purposes only.

Type of Review: Extension of a previously approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-profit groups, Not-for-profit institutions, Farms, Federal Government, State, Local, or Tribal Governments.

Estimated Number of Responses: 150.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 4.08 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 613.

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 9, 2020.

Chakinna B. Clemons,

Supervisory Tax Analyst.