99-21374. Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and Recommendations
[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44969-44970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21374]
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and
Recommendations
SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
[[Page 44970]]
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for
public comment on new or revised data collections, the railroad
Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data
collections.
Comments are Invited one:
(a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the
collection of information on respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title and Purpose of Information-Collecting
Gross Earnings Reports; OMB 3220-0132.
In order to carry out the financial interchange provisions of
section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the RRB obtains
annually from railroad employer's the gross earnings for their
employees on a one-percent basis, i.e., 1% of each employer's railroad
employees. The gross earnings sample is based on the earnings of
employees whose social security numbers end with the digits ``30.'' the
gross earnings are used to compute payroll taxes under the financial
interchange.
The gross earnings information is essential in determining the tax
amounts involved in the financial interchange with the Social Security
Administration and Health Care Financing Administration. Besides being
necessary for current financial interchange calculations, the gross
earnings file tabulations are also an integral part of the data needed
to estimate future tax income and corresponding financial interchange
amounts. These estimates are made for internal use and to satisfy
requests from other government agencies and interested groups. In
addition, cash flow projections of the social security equivalent
benefit account, railroad retirement account and cost estimates made
for proposed amendments to laws administered by the RRB are dependent
on input developed from the information collection.
The RRB utilizes Form BA-11 or its electronic equivalent to obtain
gross earnings information from railroad employers. One response is
requested of each railroad employer. Completion is mandatory.
No changes are proposed to Form BA-11.
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
Gross earnings reports are required annually from all employers
reporting railroad service and compensation. There are approximately
633 railroad employers who currently report gross earnings to the RRB.
Most large railroad employers include their railroad subsidiaries in
their gross earnings reports. This results in the RRB collecting less
than 633 earnings reports. Also, there are a large number of railroad
employers have worked forces so small that they do not have employees
with social security numbers ending in ``30.'' Currently, there are 382
such employers in this category who file ``negative'' BA-11 responses
to the RRB. Overall, on an annual basis, the RRB receives 16 reports
consisting of computer prepared tapes or diskettes and 138 by means of
manually prepared Form BA-11. The RRB estimates an average preparation
time of 5 hours for each gross earnings report submitted by computer
tape or diskette and 30 minutes for each manually prepared BA-11.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms,
and/or supporting material, please call the RRB clearance Officer at
(312) 751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be
addressed to ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be
received within 60 days of this notice.
Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-21374 Filed 08-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M
Document Information
- Published:
- 08/18/1999
- Department:
- Railroad Retirement Board
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Document Number:
- 99-21374
- Pages:
- 44969-44970 (2 pages)
- PDF File:
-
99-21374.pdf