00-17796. Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8844

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 8844, Empowerment Zone Employment Credit.

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 form and instructions should be directed to Carol Savage, [phone], Internal Revenue Service, room 5242, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Empowerment Zone Employment Credit.

OMB Number: 1545-1444.

Form Number: 8844.

Abstract: Employers who hire employees who live and work in one of the eleven designated empowerment zones can receive a tax credit for the first $15,000 of wages paid to each employee. The credit is applicable from the date of designation through the year 2004.

Current Actions: The order of Part II, Tax Liability Limit, was revised for this form. Section 501 of Public Law 106-170 extended the provision that allows individuals to offset the regular tax liability in full for personal credits. Previously filers were allowed to claim credits to the extent that the regular tax liability exceeded the tentative minimum tax. For tax years beginning in 2000 and 2001, personal nonrefundable credits may offset both the regular tax and the minimum tax. Also, the computation was changed in Part II to reflect and to conform to changes that were made to the tax computation on Form 1040. A new line 13 was added to show the sum of the regular tax before credits and the alternative minimum tax. Also, because the alternative minimum tax is added to the regular tax (line 13), we no longer need to differentiate how the credit is applied against income tax and alternative minimum tax. Therefore, lines 24 and 25 were eliminated. In addition, the instructions were revised to include two new urban empowerment zones, Cleveland, OH, and Los Angeles, CA.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, individuals or households, farms, and non-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 14 hours, 19 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 572,400.

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 5, 2000.

Garrick R. Shear,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.