96-15705. Railroad Employers' Reports and Responsibilities  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 120 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Page 31395]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-15705]
    
    
    
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    RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
    
    20 CFR Part 209
    
    RIN 3220-AB16
    
    
    Railroad Employers' Reports and Responsibilities
    
    AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) hereby amends its 
    regulations to add sections to permit employers to dispose of payroll 
    records after five years, and for the utilization of payroll records to 
    credit service under the Railroad Retirement Act in the case of 
    employers that have ceased operations. These amendments will alleviate 
    needless record retention and ease reporting requirements for employers 
    that have permanently ceased operations.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Secretary to the Board, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 Rush 
    Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas W. Sadler, Assistant General 
    Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 
    60611, (312) 751-4513, TDD (312) 751-4701.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Employer reports are used to establish 
    employee compensation and service records. These reports are based on 
    payroll records. The Board's rules and procedures regarding the 
    authorization of disposal of these records and the utilization of 
    payroll records of employers who have abandoned service in lieu of 
    employer reports are presently contained in Board Orders, which are not 
    readily available to the public. Accordingly, the Board adopts 
    regulations specifying that railroad employers may dispose of payroll 
    records more than five years old where there is no dispute pending as 
    to the compensation reported for the periods covered by those records. 
    The Board also to amends its regulations to provide that the Board will 
    accept payroll records in lieu of prescribed reports if there is no 
    official of the employer available to prepare and certify to the 
    accuracy of such reports and if the tax liability involved has been 
    discharged.
        On February 15, 1996, the Board published this rule as a proposed 
    rule (61 FR 5970) inviting comments on or before April 15, 1996. No 
    comments were received. No changes have been made to the proposed rule. 
    The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and Budget, 
    has determined that this is not a significant regulatory action under 
    Executive Order 12866; therefore, no regulatory impact analysis is 
    required. There are no information collections associated with this 
    rule.
    
    List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 209
    
        Railroad employees, Railroad retirement, Railroads.
    
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 20, chapter II, part 
    209 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
    
    PART 209--RAILROAD EMPLOYERS' REPORTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
    
        1. The authority citation for part 209 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 45 U.S.C. 231f.
    
        2. Part 209 is amended by adding Secs. 209.16 and 209.17 to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 209.16  Disposal of payroll records.
    
        Employers may dispose of payroll records for periods subsequent to 
    1936, provided that the payroll records are more than five years old 
    and that there is no dispute pending pertaining to the compensation 
    reported for the period of those records.
    
    
    Sec. 209.17  Use of payroll records as returns of compensation.
    
        Payroll records of employers which have permanently ceased 
    operations may be accepted in lieu of prescribed reports provided that 
    there is no official of the employer available to prepare and certify 
    to the accuracy of such reports and, provided further that any employer 
    and employee tax liability incurred under the Railroad Retirement Tax 
    Act has been discharged.
    
        Dated: June 11, 1996.
    
        By Authority of the Board.
    
        For the Board.
    Beatrice Ezerski,
    Secretary to the Board.
    [FR Doc. 96-15705 Filed 6-19-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7905-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
6/20/1996
Published:
06/20/1996
Department:
Railroad Retirement Board
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-15705
Dates:
June 20, 1996.
Pages:
31395-31395 (1 pages)
RINs:
3220-AB16: Railroad Employers' Reports and Responsibilities
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3220-AB16/railroad-employers-reports-and-responsibilities
PDF File:
96-15705.pdf
CFR: (2)
20 CFR 209.16
20 CFR 209.17