03-22459. Limitation on Use of the Nonaccrual-Experience Method of Accounting Under Section 448(d)(5)

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations and notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY:

In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations relating to the use of the nonaccrual-experience method of accounting by taxpayers using an accrual method of accounting and performing services. The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. This document also provides notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations.

DATES:

Written or electronic comments must be received by December 3, 2003. Outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for December 10, 2003, at 10 a.m. must be received by November 19, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-141402-02), room 5203, Internal Revenue Service, PO Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand-delivered Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-141402-02), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Alternatively, taxpayers may submit electronic comments directly to the IRS Internet site at http://www.irs.gov/​regs. The public hearing will be held in the IRS Auditorium of the Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Concerning the proposed regulations, Terrance McWhorter, 202-622-4970; concerning submissions of comments, Treena Garrett, 202-622-3401 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed rulemaking has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). Comments on the collection of information should be sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC 20224. Comments on the collection of information should be received by November 3, 2003. Comments are specifically requested concerning:

Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Internal Revenue Service, including whether the information will have practical utility;

The accuracy of the estimated burden associated with the proposed collection of information (see below);

How the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected may be enhanced;

How the burden of complying with the proposed collection of information may be minimized, including through the application of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of service to provide information.

The collection of information in this proposed regulation is in § 1.448-2T. This information is required to verify that an alternative nonaccrual-experience method of accounting selected and used by a taxpayer to compute the amount of its otherwise accruable income that will not be collected will, based on the taxpayer's experience, accurately reflect the amount of income that the taxpayer will not collect and will clearly reflect the taxpayer's experience under section 448(d)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code. The collection of information is mandatory. The likely recordkeepers are business or other for-profit institutions, and small businesses or organizations.

Estimated total annual recordkeeping burden: 24,000 hours.

The estimated annual burden per recordkeeper varies from 1 to 5 hours, depending on individual circumstances, with an estimated average of 3 hours.

Estimated number of recordkeepers: 8,000.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.

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.

Background and Explanation of Provisions

Section 448(d)(5) was added to the Code by section 801 of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-514, 100 Stat. 2085) and was amended by section 403 of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-147, 116 Stat. 21) (the 2002 Act), effective for taxable years ending after March 9, 2002. Temporary regulations in the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register revise § 1.448-2T of part 1 of title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Those regulations pertain to the nonaccrual of certain amounts by taxpayers using an accrual method of accounting and performing services. The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains the amendments and these proposed regulations.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It also has been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations. It is hereby certified that the collection of information in these regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This certification is based upon the fact that, as previously noted, the estimated burden associated with the information collection averages three hours per respondent. Moreover, for taxpayers who are eligible to use these regulations and who follow these regulations, any burden imposed on taxpayers due to the collection of information in these regulations will be outweighed by the benefit taxpayers will receive by accruing less income than otherwise would be required. Therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact.

Comments and Public Hearing

Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any written comments (a signed original and eight (8) copies) or electronic comments that are submitted timely to the IRS. The IRS and Treasury Department specifically request comments on the clarity of the proposed rule and how it may be made easier to understand. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.

A public hearing has been scheduled for December 10, 2003, beginning at 10 a.m. in the IRS Auditorium of the Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Due to building security procedures, visitors must enter at the Constitution Avenue entrance. In addition, all visitors must present photo identification to enter the building. Because of access restrictions, visitors will not be admitted beyond the immediate entrance area more than 30 minutes before the hearing starts. For information about having your name placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble.

The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons who wish to present oral comments at the hearing must submit electronic or written comments and an outline of the topics to be discussed and the time to be devoted to each topic (signed original and eight (8) copies) by November 19, 2003.

A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person for making comments. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be prepared after the deadline for receiving outlines has passed. Copies of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing.

Drafting Information

The principal author of these regulations is Terrance McWhorter, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

• Income taxes
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1—INCOME TAXES

Paragraph 1. The authority for part 1 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

Par. 2. Section 1.448-2 is added as follows:

§ 1.448-2

Nonaccrual of certain amounts by service providers.

[The text of proposed § 1.448-2 is the same as the text of § 1.448-2T published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.]

Judith B. Tomaso,

Acting Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.